Facilitating Stepfamily Education for Latinos

Abstract

Relationship education programs can serve as a resource to families in developing and maintaining strong familial relationships, particularly for underserved populations. This qualitative study focuses on effective strategies, used by 14 facilitators, to teach Latino participants attending Smart Steps: Embrace the Journey stepfamily education courses in a western state. Results indicated two major themes regarding culturally appropriate strategies. The first dealt with classroom management and the approach of the facilitators, which included three subthemes: encouraging class discussion and sharing, applying cultural understanding, and recognizing the importance of the parent–child relationship. The second major theme addressed modifications to the program curriculum.

KEYWORDS:

• ethnicity
• Latino families
• marriage
• qualitative research
• remarriage
• step-families

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Funding for this research was provided, in part, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (grant nos. 90FE0129 and 90YD0227). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.