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Social work with stepfamilies and their children with cancer
Author(s) -
Gould Hilary,
Gould Nick
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.2960030206
Subject(s) - stepfamily , referral , childhood cancer , social work , intervention (counseling) , social constructionism , work (physics) , psychology , cancer , developmental psychology , sociology , medicine , nursing , psychiatry , social science , political science , mechanical engineering , law , engineering
This paper explores the complexities of medical social work undertaken with stepfamilies caring for a child suffering from cancer. Although there is a growing literature dealing with the psycho‐social effects of childhood cancer, there is an unexamined assumption that children are cared for by their birth parents within a traditional nuclear family. It is argued that the paediatric oncology social worker is challenged increasingly to develop understandings and modes of intervention which are appropriate and sympathetic to the particular issues facing stepfamilies. Using a systemic and chronological framework from referral and diagnosis through to bereavement, the authors identify challenges for the stepfamily, corresponding implications for social work practice, and questions for future research.