Family Guide Northwestern Switzerland
Family Diversity
. Traditional nuclear family There is often a certain nostalgia in . Unmarried couples discussions about the family: «Families . Bicultural families used to be a lot closer and bigger, people . Foster families stayed together, families held together...» . Adoptive families We can’t say whether this is really true. But . Single parent families we do know that family structures and the . Same-sex partnerships way people live have changed . Stepfamilies/Patchwork families considerably.
We are always influenced by images of the ideal family. Today, there are two dominant images: In the traditional nuclear family, the husband is the breadwinner, the housewife and mother is responsible for raising the children and house keeping . There are several other «new» types of family: the nuclear family where both parents work, adoptive families, bicultural families, single- parent families, same-sex partnerships, unmarried parents, large families, foster families, or stepfamilies/patchwork families.
But no matter what type of family we consider, basically they are all striving for stable and harmonious Page 1 of 11 relationships with each other. However, roles are changing. Family Guide Northwestern Switzerland
The gender-specific division of labour, laws governing the partnership of which has given men more wealth and unmarried couples, so there is no legal power, is slowly being replaced by certainty about what happens if the shared responsibilities. couple separates or one partner dies. It may be helpful to draw up a common-law Traditional nuclear family agreement that defines rights and The father is the breadwinner, working full obligations of both partners in the case of time. The mother takes care of one or two separation or death. Important issues to or maybe more children and does the think about are rent/mortgage, children, housework. This is the old ideal of the child-support, pension funds or a will. You family dating back to the period of can find more information on such industrialisation in the 19th century. Other agreements on the websites listed at the cultures don’t share this ideal. Even in our end of this chapter. western culture, it was common to share Bicultural families the work involved in keeping a family. For example, in agricultural societies, all Half of the couples getting married in members of the family contributed to Switzerland today come from two different growing crops and taking care of animals. countries. Binational relationships and A man can only be the family’s sole culturally diverse families are quite breadwinner if his job pays well enough to common. sustain the whole family. In most cultures, When two people of different nationalities this has never been the norm. Even in get married, they must integrate two Switzerland today, it is hard to live different cultures and two sets of values according to the old ideal. Many mothers into their everyday life. This can be quite have no choice but to get a job. Besides, tricky. many women choose to stay in their job The «Beratungsstelle für binationale Paare after giving birth, because they want to und Familien» (Information Centre for pursue their own career, too. binational couples and families) offers advice on: • legal issues (i.e. international Every family should have a choice of how marriage laws and rights of the child, they want to organise their lives. There is Swiss immigration law) no right or wrong way of life, but it must be • social security in Switzerland renegotiated again and again over time, as • schools, education and working in the children grow older. Switzerland • social, cultural and religious issues Unmarried couples in Switzerland and abroad, before and after marriage. Young couples often live together without getting married. However, there are several You will find a lot of information online. major legal disadvantages to this However, a personal consultation is arrangement – except for the fact that in advisable. Switzerland, married couples pay more taxes than unmarried ones. There are no Page 2 of 11 Family Guide Northwestern Switzerland
Foster families prepared to care for the child as you would for your own. Your biological children must Foster families take in children who, for accept a new brother or sister. An adoption whatever reason, cannot live with their will change the life of everyone involved – biological parents. Fostering a child is a do not take it lightly. long-term commitment that will change the lives of everyone involved. In her book for prospective adoptive parents, Barbara Steck says that adoption It is important that foster parents be is a «lifelong process»: «Adoptive parents prepared to cooperate closely with Social and adopted children will be faced with Services and the child’s parents. Even if different challenges along the path they the child becomes part of the new family, walk together. Many adoptive parents go the child will always have a special role, through very difficult phases with their being a member of two families. The child children. Some situations can be quite has to find his or her place in new stressful for everyone involved. surroundings, find security in new relationships and maintain a close bond An adoption is a complex situation for all with the biological parents. Foster children members of the adoptive family. Adopted need a lot of support and understanding children must accept the fact that although from the new parents. They need time to they are not growing up with their biological come to terms with the new situation. Even parents, they get just as much love. after many years in the foster family, the Everybody must find their own way of children may want to discuss the situation dealing with the situation. Adoption is an again and again. Both children and foster extraordinary and challenging project, for it parents must be patient and willing to changes a family completely, and also discuss difficult questions openly. changes the family’s history.» Families interested in fostering a child need There is a legal distinction between the to meet certain personal and legal adoption of an under-age child, the requirements. Please contact the adoption of a stepchild or international competent authority for your canton for adoptions. You will find all relevant details more information. You will find the address on the website of the competent authority, at the end of this chapter. such as the legal requirements for adoption, all necessary forms and Foster parents of children under the age of international agreements. 15 need a licence issued by the canton, irrespective of whether or not the family is Single Parent Family remunerated for fostering a child. No licence is needed to become a provider of Single parents need to shoulder the day-care. responsiblity for their children on their own. In the past decades, the number of single Adoptive Family parents has grown considerably, most of them women. There are around 160'000 If you are thinking about adopting a child, single-parent families in Switzerland. Many consider it very carefully. You must be
Page 3 of 11 Family Guide Northwestern Switzerland single parents have gone through a tough Same-sex partnerships divorce or have had to come to terms with Married or not, a couple is obliged to their partner’s death. It takes time to settle support each other and to share their life into the new situation. What is more, single together. They are responsible for each parents are juggling the roles of other in good times and bad times. breadwinner, parent and housekeeper – which can be very hard to manage. Some mothers or fathers find out they are gay quite late in life, even if they have been The biggest issue for most single parents is in heterosexual relationships for years. This work-life balance. Single parents are at is always a shock for their partner. Quite greater risk for poverty than other families. often, marriages break up if one partner Even so, most of them manage – because decides to come out. they are energetic and resourceful when it comes to organising help from neighbours, Sometimes, a homosexual parent starts a friends and relatives. new relationship and moves in with his or her new partner. The new partner will Single parents should be careful to spend become a new caregiver to the children, so enough time with their children and also he or she should be involved in decisions find time for themselves. «eifam», the regarding everyday issues (such as association for single-parent families in the school, day-care, medical care). Basel region, organises regular Sunday Obviously, some homosexual men and brunches and other events. At these lesbian women may wish to have informal get-togethers, single parents can children, even if they’ve never been in a meet friends and talk about their worries, heterosexual relationship. However, in while the children can run about and play. Switzerland, the federal law on the You can find the dates online. Similar registration of partnerships for same-sex associations for single parent families can couples prevents them from adopting a be found in the other cantons of child or using any other method of Northwestern Switzerland. reproductive medicine. Also, it is not possible to adopt the partner’s children. When parents separate or get divorced, it is common for one parent to get custody, while the other gets visiting rights. These Stepfamilies visits can provide some space and free The members of a step or patchwork family time for the main carer. But they can also may not have the same name or share be stressful, especially if the parents are blood relations, but they are a family. still arguing or even fighting in court. A Stepfamilies are becoming more popular counsellor or mediator can help you and common, although they can be quite negotiate visiting times. In extremely complex. It takes time for all members to difficult situations, or if the other parent is find their place in the extended family and unable to care for the child, parents can create a bond with everyone. Even if there make use of accompanied visiting days are different types of stepfamilies, they all (Begleitete Besuchstage). have one thing in common: It is the
Page 4 of 11 Family Guide Northwestern Switzerland adults’ decision whether or not a family lives together or separates. The children have no choice but to go along and get used to the new stepparent, brothers and sisters. This may mean taking on a new position among more children, fewer privileges and new responsibilities. The new partner also has to learn to assume a new role, even if he or she is still in conflict with the ex-partner.
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Family Diversity: addresses and links Please note: Most of the described services and links are in German. If a service is explicitly offered in English this is marked by a * Switzerland Aargau Basel-Landschaft Basel-Stadt Solothurn Traditional nuclear family
Unmarried couples www.konkubinat.ch Bicultural families Association of Counselling Aargau has no specialized Counselling Agency for Counselling Agency for Frabina Counselling Agency Agencies for Binational and counselling agency for binational and intercultural binational and intercultural for binational couples and Intercultural Couples and binational couples and couples and families in Basel: couples and families in Basel: families in Solothurn and Families, Switzerland: families. You can find general Steinengraben 69, 4051 Basel Steinengraben 69, 4051 Basel Olten * www.binational.ch * information on the following http://www.binational-bs.ch/ * http://www.binational-bs.ch/ * website http://www.frabina.ch/welcome Counselling is offered in Counselling is offered in Association of binational http://www.binational.ch/ * German, English, French, German, English, French, couples and families Spanish and Portuguese. Spanish and Portuguese. http://www.ig-binational.ch/ Foster families Foster family placing, Foster family placing and Foster family placing and Counselling and training for Pflegekinder Aktion Schweiz evaluation of prospective information on the topic: information on the topic: foster parents by Stiftung foster families and information Arkadis http://www.pflegekinder.ch/ on the topic: Familea Familea http://www.pflegefamilien- www.familea.ch www.familea.ch so.ch/ Departement Bildung, Kultur und Sport, Abteilung Cantonal information about The „Zentrale Behörde Cantonal information about Sonderschulung, Heime und fostering : Adoption und Pflegefamilien“ is fostering: Werkstätte: https://www.baselland.ch/Pfleg responsible for delivering the https://www.so.ch/verwaltung/d https://www.ag.ch/de/bks/sond efamilien.317403.0.html cantonal fostering license. epartement-des-innern/amt- erschulen_behindertenbetreuu Prospective foster parents fuer-soziale-sicherheit/familie- ng/familienplatzierung/familien The „Kinder- und should call them on 061 267 Seite 6 von 11 Family Guide Northwestern Switzerland
platzierung.jsp Erwachsenenschutzbehörde 68 12 for an evaluation. generationen/pflegefamilien/ The competent authority for KESB“ is the competent foster families is the authority in Baselland to apply „Gemeinderat“ at your place for a fostering license. of residence. http://www.kesb-bl.ch/
Switzerland Aargau Basel-Landschaft Basel-Stadt Solothurn Adoptive families Schweizerische Fachstelle für The competent authority for The competent authority for The competent authority for The competent authority for Adoption: adoptions in the Canton of adoptions in the canton Basel- adoptions in the canton Basel- the adoption of a child is the www.adoption.ch Aargau is the „Departement Landschaft is the Stadt are the “Zentrale „Fachstelle für Familie und Volkswirtschaft und Inneres“. „Sicherheitsdirektion“. Behörden Adoption und Generationen“ in the Schweizerischer Adoptiveltern- Pflegefamilien” of the department for social security. Verein: You can find detailed You can find detailed department for education. You can find detailed http://www.saev.ch information about the information about the information about the prerequisites of an adoption, prerequisites of an adoption, Please contact them directly prerequisites of an adoption The Swiss Authorities online, the application and the application and for further information: and the process on their Information on adoption *: international treaties on the international treaties on the website: https://www.ch.ch/en/how- website: website: http://www.jfs.bs.ch/fuer- https://www.so.ch/verwaltung/d adopt/ familien/hilfen/adoption.html epartement-des-innern/amt- https://www.ag.ch/de/dvi/perso https://www.baselland.ch/Adop fuer-soziale-sicherheit/familie- enliches_zivilstandswesen/ado tionen.273476.0.html generationen/adoption/ ption/adoption.jsp?sectionId=1 70797 The „Amt für Gemeinden, Abteilung Zivilstandesamt und Bürgerrecht“ is competent for adoption of a stepchild or an adult person. https://www.so.ch/verwaltung/v olkswirtschaftsdepartement/am t-fuer- gemeinden/zivilstandsamt/
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Switzerland Aargau Basel-Landschaft Basel-Stadt Solothurn Single-parent families Schweizerischer Verband der Accompanied visiting days for Accompanied visiting days for Accompanied visiting days for The Association “Kompass” Alleinerziehenden Mütter und seperated or divorced separated or divorced separated or divocred parents offers accompanied visiting Väter (SVAMV) parents in the Canton of parents in the Canton of in the Canton of Basel-Stadt : days for parents and their www.einelternfamilie.ch Aargau Baselland http://www.begleitetebesuchst child/ children. (Begleitete Besuchstage): (Begleitete Besuchstage) : age- Please contact them directly www.bbt-ag.ch http://www.bbt-bl.ch baselstadt.ch/ for more information: IG Alleinerziehende Baden Eifam- http://www.kompass-so.ch/ www.alleinerziehende- Alleinerziehende Region Basel Eifam- baden.ch www.eifam.ch Alleinerziehende Region Basel Verein Alleinerziehende www.eifam.ch Aargau http://www.alleinerziehende- aargau.ch/
Switzerland Same-sex partnership . Information on rights and duties in a registered partnership “ https://www.ch.ch/en/registered-partnership/
. Pink Cross- Schweizer Dachverband der Schwulen http://www.pinkcross.ch
. Lesbenorganisation Schweiz LOS
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http://www.los.ch/de/ . Familyproject- Für Lesben und Schwule mit Kinderwunsch: http://www.familyproject.ch/
. Dachverband Regenbogenfamilien: http://www.regenbogenfamilien.ch/
Switzerland Aargau Basel-Landschaft Basel-Stadt Solothurn Stepfamilies/patchwork families Websites for patchwork Marriage and Relationship Marriage and Relationship Family- Couple- and Parenting Beratungsstelle Scala offers counselling in the Canton of counselling by the counselling is offered by fabe counselling for couples and families: http:// Aargau is offered by Catholic church: ( Familien-, Paar- und families. familie.ch/ Eheberatung Aargau: http://www.paarberatung- Erziehungsberatung) www.patchwork- http://www.eheberatung- kathbl.ch/ http://www.beratungsstelle- http://www.patchworkfamilien.c aargau.ch/ http://www.fabe.ch/ scala.ch/ h/ Marriage and relationship counselling by the Protestant The „Fachstelle für church (Reformierte Kirche) Beziehungsfragen“ also offers http://www.paarberatung- family and couples counselling refbl.ch/index.php http://www.velso.ch/
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Book recommendations
Our book recommendations are generally for books that are available only in German. Where possible we’ve listed the English translation or an equivalent.
On the topic of family diversity „Familienbande“ Von Christina Caprez, Limmat Verlag 2012
Das Buch von Christina Caprez zeigt in 15 Porträts von Schweizer Familien die Vielfalt der heutigen Familienkonstellationen auf. Die Porträts werden durch drei Experteninterviews ergänzt. Weitere Informationen über das Buch finden Sie auf folgender Webseite: http://www.limmatverlag.ch/programm/sachbuch/frauen/titel/89-familienbande.html
On the topic of living together as an umarried couple „Paare ohne Trauschein- Was sie beim Zusammenleben regeln müssen“ von Karin von Flüe, Beobachter Edition, 2015.
On the topic of adoption „Adoption – ein lebenslanger Prozess“ von Barbara Steck, Karger Verlag , 2007.
„Survival-Tipps für Adoptiveltern-2.Auflage“ von Christel Rech-Simon und Fritz B. Simon, Carl-Auer-Verlag, 2014.
On the topic of bicultural/binational families Binational? Genial!: Der Ratgeber für Binationale Paare mit Kindern von Christian Urech, Isabelle Schiess und Valentin Stucki, Atlantis Verlag, 2005
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On the topic of single-parent families „Allein erziehen - so schaff ichs!: Kinder, Rechtliches, Existenz sichern“ von Ruth Eigenmann, Beobachter Buchverlag, 2005.
On the topic of same-sex partnerships „Regenbogenfamilien- Ein Handbuch“ von Stephanie Gerlach, Querverlag, 2010.
„Und was sagen die Kinder dazu?: Gespräche mit Töchtern und Söhnen lesbischer und schwuler Eltern“ von Uli Streib-Brzic und Stephanie Gerlach, Querverlag, 2005.
On the topic of stepfamilies/patchwork families „Aus Stiefeltern werden Bonus-Eltern: Chancen und Herausforderungen für Patchwork-Familien“ von Jesper Juul, Kösel Verlag, 2011.
„Wie Patchworkfamilien funktionieren- Das müssen Eltern und ihre neuen Partner über ihre Rechte und Pflichten wissen“ von Cornelia Döbeli, Beobachter Edition, 2013.
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