School of Social Work Hosts 11Th Annual Conference INSIDE THIS ISSUE on October 28Th, 2016 the 11Th Annual Losses and Loyalties
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Brigham Young University’s School of Social Work Annual Newsletter 2016-2017 1 1 Newsletter Title School of Social Work Hosts 11th Annual Conference INSIDE THIS ISSUE On October 28th, 2016 the 11th Annual losses and loyalties. The third challenge BYU Social Work Conference, Stepfami- tackled parenting techniques and establish- Director’s Report 3 lies: Research Informing Practice, was held ing what kind of parenting is best. Dr. Alumni President’s Report 4 at the Hinckley Center. Pre- Papernow identified that par- 2016 College Awards 5 senters included Dr. Patricia ents who work on connec- Papernow, the Director of tion before correction prove New Assistant Professor 5 the Institute of Stepfamily to have more successful rela- Faculty & Staff Updates 6 Education; Dr. Kevin tionships with their children. Shafer, a Brigham Young A fourth challenge was Scholar of Faith Lecture 8 University Professor; about creating a new family Guest Lectures 9 Dr. Brian Higginbotham culture. Family culture must NASW 10 and Sheryl Goodey, from be built while still maintain- Utah State University; and ing respect for previously MSWSA 11 Kerri Robinson, an LCSW established patterns. Finally, 21st Anniversary Celebration 11 at Family Support and the last challenge Papernow Treatment Center. explored was that of former Opening Social 12 spouses and integrating them Turkey Bowl 12 In the opening plenary ses- into the family. When each Christmas Party 13 sion, Dr. Patricia Papernow of these challenges are over- spoke on Surviving and come through healthy com- Student Weddings 13 Thriving in Stepfamily Rela- munication, a stepfamily will Student Baby Announcements 14 tionships, explaining that finally survive and thrive. few people have information or research on The building up of this family process is Student Presentations 15 stepfamilies and how to make them work. most important for the stability of relation- Internship Experiences 16 She began her presentation stating when it ships. Papernow concluded that while di- New Student Cohort 19 comes to first-time couples, partners are vorce is difficult for most kids, the overall able to work together to establish patterns struggle is fueled by conflict between rela- Class of 2018 20 and values that make a family. Then when a tionships. Alumni Updates 25 child enters the fami- At the end of the con- ly, a hard wired bond ference, Dr. with both mother and Papernow did a role Aims of a BYU father is formed. If play with students. Education that couple then gets She demonstrated her divorced, new pat- techniques as a clini- Spiritually Strengthening terns are established cal social worker, as within that single she played the role of Intellectually Enlarging parent home. There- a therapist in two sce- fore, if and when a narios: one with a Character Building new companion en- Dr. Papernow performing role play with first year couple in their second Leading to Lifelong ters the home, there MSW students, Jessica Fisher and Matt Crooks. marriage, and one Learning and Service can be challenges in depicting a strained starting a stepfamily. child-parent relationship. This application technique for both the students and audi- Papernow continued that the first challenge ence provided an important learning tool for that can be presented is the Inside/Outsider helping future clients who may be in a simi- position. Attachments and bonds, as de- lar situation. scribed previously, that regard both biologi- cal and stepparents with children, can be During the breakout session, attendants stretched and even broken when creating a could participate in three different sessions stepfamily. A second challenge she to learn more about stepfamily research and addressed was children and their struggle of organizations. One of the sessions was giv- BYU School of Social Work Annual Newsletter (801) 422-3282 http://socialwork.byu.edu [email protected] Brigham Young University’s School of Social Work Annual Newsletter 2016-2017 2 2 en by Dr. Kevin Shafer, whose research interests address that matter most and creating a positive atmosphere within the significance of father involvement for child wellbeing, the family. Higginbotham and Goodey explained that this barriers to positive father engagement with children, and program is a relationship strengthening education program, the influence of stepfather-stepchild relationships on the focusing specifically on those who have stepfamilies. wellbeing of children living in stepfamilies. He is a princi- Classes educate individuals not only on ways to improve pal investigator of the Stepfamily Experiences Project and their relationships with spouses and children, but also sup- the Survey of Contemporary Fatherhood, data sets which ports them in their non-biological families. This relation- address parenting and step-parenting among men. ship education includes the importance of social support, validating the stepfamily experience, developing realistic Shafer’s topic of Stepfathers: expectations, navigating stepparent-stepchild relationships, The Key to Stepfamily Success prioritizing the couple relationship, and managing relation- provided statistics showing ships with former partners. Classes and workshops are for that 80% of stepfamilies con- parents, children, and then families all together, working to sist of a biological mother and progress towards healthy familial relationships. Hig- stepfather, 60% of stepfami- ginbotham and Goodey continue to expand this program lies will break up, and 30% of and further their research for the future of stepfamilies. children will live with a step- family between birth and age Kerri Robinson presented on Cre- 18. Dr. Shafer articulated that ating a Unique, Combined Family stepfamilies take time and Identity. She began with her per- effort that most parents and sonal experiences. She has person- families would not expect. ally learned the invisible burdens However, stepfamilies can be that are brought to stepfamilies. Dr. Kevin Shafer successful and similar to a This invisible burden tends to be nuclear family, when issues are worked out in the right the expectations that are brought in time. Everything in a stepfamily can be negotiable. Within by family members. She explained those family situations, which are likely to be highly com- that however planned out or plex, stepfather involvement provide the necessary key in thought out one might feel, these the negotiation. Shafer continued to state that within step- unseen expectations can be a trial families, children look to the mother for loyalty and advo- to the family. Other predictable, cacy, and fathers for contact and social support. Stepfathers but tough barriers, that may occur are then seen as social support, but are also pressured to not Kerri Robinson, LCSW within a stepfamily can be intense change the family and to not discipline the children. These and unexpected emotions of loneliness or lack of control parenting roles render major disagreements in a stepfamily within family dynamics. Relationships are constantly because each adult in the family system has different de- evolving, making them complex. These relationship strug- sires and expectations. Shafer affirmed that ways to im- gles can prove to be different for each family member. prove these parenting roles, particularly with the stepfather, Robinson emphasized that focusing on an individual's iden- are to have them empathize with children, improve com- tity within a stepfamily is crucial because personal issues munication, and be emotionally available. He concluded may resurface due to inconsistency around them. Commu- that stepfamilies work better when there is open communi- nication is key. Managing and normalizing expectations cation, parental agreement, and a good relationship quali- can help all to understand that a new family identity is ty. With these various techniques needed, bringing all in the family together. Robinson con- implemented, a stepfamily can grow cluded that when a fresh family identity is made for the closer and stronger. new stepfamily an opportunity to establish traditions and build values arises, providing a chance to make a family Another breakout session presenta- feel whole once again. tion was given by Dr. Brian Higginbotham and Sheryl Goodey. The 11th Annual BYU Social Work Conference was an Dr. Higginbotham is the Associate opportunity for students, faculty, and families to gain great- Vice President of the Utah State er insight into the life and struggles of a stepfamily. Uncov- University (USU) Extension pro- ering the challenges faced by stepfamilies, obtaining the gram and a Professor in the Depart- key to a stepfather’s involvement, revealing an established ment of Family, Consumer and Hu- program on healthy relationships, and learning from a per- man Development. Sheryl Goodey sonal witness the importance of family dynamics, all advo- is a PhD candidate, who has also cate for active engagement in the support of families. This been working with the Extension critical information provided by Dr. Patricia Papernow, Dr. program and researching with Dr. Kevin Shafer, Dr. Brian Higginbotham and Sheryl Goodey, Dr. Brian Higginbotham. The USU Extension and Kerri Robinson, furthered the research on stepfamilies Higginbotham and Sheryl program encourages and promotes and contributed to the mission of the Social Work program Goodey taking time for those relationships as a whole by preparing all to serve children and families. Brigham Young University’s School of Social Work Annual Newsletter 2016-2017