Stepfamily Support Group started in December 2002 as local chapters of the Stepfamily Association of America, SAA, now the National Stepfamily Resource Center, NSRC. The HSSG is committed to provide essential support, education and counseling to co-parents via regular meetings where stepfamily members can discuss problems and successes, and find that they're not alone!

• Objectives for a Stepfamily Program
• Stepping Together Program
• Smart Steps Program
• Leaders Trainings

Programs for Stepfamilies

Objectives for the Stepfamily Programs

• Having and comprehensive knowledge of family trend
• Validate Stepfamilies and their experiences
• Train skills for adjusting to changes in their lives
• Knowledge on how to deal with financial issues
• The importance to strengthen the marital relationships
• Acceptance of family roles
• Learning and exercising step-parenting skills
• Learning about child development and positive parenting skills
• The importance of the concepts of empathy and shared meaning to improve relationships
• Enhanced communication skills in the family and in co-parenting relationships
• Training skills in conflict management
• Greater use of healthy and respectful behaviors towards others in the family
   

Stepping Together: Creating Strong Stepfamilies -- Emily B. Visher, Ph.D, John S. Visher, MD

Six Classes - 1 ½ each class
For Adult Couples Planning or Forming a Stepfamily

The Program Step by Step

Step One: Recognizing Stepfamily Myths and Realities
Step Two: Navigating the Emotional Journey
Step Three: Strengthening the Couple Connection
Step Four: Understanding the Children
Step Five: Building and maintaining Family Relationships
Step Six: Working Across Households
 

Smart Steps Program for Adults and Children in Stepfamilies -- Francesca Adler-Baeder

Six Sessions with the Adult Couple and Six Sessions with the Children.

Contents for the Program

Adults Sessions

Session 1 -- Families Today

• Historical context of stepfamilies
• Myths about stepfamilies
• Realistic expectations for stepfamilies

Lesson 2 -- Changes in you and your family

• Changing roles and expectations
• Legal issues for stepfamilies
• Finances and stepfamilies

Session 3 -- Where are you coming from?

• Empathy and Shared Meaning
• Parenting and Step-parenting tools & techniques for managing behavior
• Children and Adolescents - why do they behave the way they do?

Session 4 -- Strengthening the Couple Relationship

• Recognizing negative patterns
• Strategies for marital strength

Session 5 -- Connections

• Children and marital transitions
• Co-parenting strategies

Session 6 -- Building strong Family Relationships

• Stress management
• Focusing on the positives
• Putting knowledge into practice
• What have the children learned? Special presentation.

Children Sessions

Session 1-- Families Today

• Myths
• Self-definitions
• Difference between family and household
• Every family is different, different is ok.
• What makes a family strong / safe?

Session 2 -- Changes in you and Your Family

• Individual change; events that lead to family change
• Feelings associated with change

Session 3 -- Where are you coming from?

• Differences
• Understanding empathy
• Understanding shared meaning

Session 4 -- Managing Conflict

• Understanding conflict
• Managing conflict

Session 5 -- Connections

• Communications is a 2-way street
• Breaking down barriers

Session 6 -- What Have we Learned? Survivor Challenge

• Have you "survived" Step Class?
• A review of Skills Learned

Leaders Trainings

Mentor and Leader's Training Programs available according to the requirements and necessities of your organization. For more information, please contact us at: 954-881-6099

Click here for the Stepfamily Process -- PDF format