Steps to healthier combines families

  • Published
  • By Catherine McNally
  • Hilltop Times staff
HILL AIR FORCE BASE --  Being a stepparent can be challenging, but so can being a stepchild. In a six-week class entitled Smart Steps, both children and parents are brought together to learn how to overcome these challenges.

"While the adults are learning a topic, the kids are learning the same topic in 'kid's terms," said Kim Taylor, a community readiness consultant with the Airman and Family Readiness Center and one of the class instructors. "It's unique in that it involves the whole family."

This is the second year Hill's A&FRC will host the program, designed for remarried couples, stepfamilies and cohabitating couples with children. "This (class) has been the first time that something about stepfamilies has been provided," Taylor said. "It's been a huge need across the state."

The class was designed by Francesca Adler-Baeder, Ph.D., an associate professor of Human Development and Family Studies at Auburn University in Alabama.

The A&FRC and other base organizations have taken great strides to ensure that the class brings stepfamilies together in more ways than just learning. The free class geared toward adults and children ages 6-18, also offers free child care for infants and a family dinner.

"(A) reason we offer the dinner is to provide a setting where families can sit down and eat together," Taylor said. "It's teaching them the importance of going back to the basics."

Topics covered include communication, conflict management, ex-spouses, financial issues, parenting and more. Typically the first class revolves around confronting and dispelling myths that pertain to step families, explained Sarah Hanych, a community readiness technician with the A&FRC and a class instructor.

This is important, Hanych continued, because stepfamilies find out that they're "average" and it often helps each family open up and learn a lot from the other families present.

Though the class is held at the A&FRC, instructors come from resources that range from family advocacy, the Child Development Center and the Youth Center. The wide variety of specialties ensures the class is interesting for both adults and children.

The class is six weeks long with one session a week and delves deep into many concerns, issues and challenges faced by stepfamilies. Families who attend at least five out of the six total classes receive a coin specially made for the Smart Steps class for their efforts.

As a bonus, families may also elect to participate in an extra session about a month after the class ends. That session often includes a family-oriented team-building activity. "We did an Amazing Race scavenger hunt type activity (last year)," Hanych said.

"It's a win-win. For parents it's a good education and it's enjoyable for the kids," Taylor said.

The next Smart Steps class will be held at the Airman and Family Readiness Center, Building 150 on Jan. 20, 27, Feb. 3, 10, 17 and 24 and will last from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. It is free and dinner will be provided for the whole family as well as free child care for infants and children up to age 5.

The class is open to anyone with base access and interested families should register by Jan. 14. For information or to register, please call the A&FRC at (801) 777-4681. More information can also be found at www.stepfamilies.info/smart-steps.php.