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Family quality of life: a framework for policy and social service provisions to support families of children with disabilities
- Authors:
- WANG Mian, BROWN Roy
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Family Social Work, 12(2), April 2009, pp.144-167.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article provides an overview of conceptualisation, measurement and application of family quality of life (FQoL). The authors delineate how this concept has been increasingly recognised by policy makers, researchers and practitioners in the context of family supports for families of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Policy, research and practice implications for the field of social work are discussed. The authors recommend that social workers and allied professionals should consider using a FQoL survey or scale to gain information about a family’s overall satisfaction with their family life across domains and should look for strengths and weaknesses in family domains among family members. In addition they should be aware that some families record satisfaction when they still need support. They should also consider likely future domain needs for the family and should look for ways to support the family, not just the child with a disability. They should recognise that there are large differences in satisfaction across FQoL domains. Finally, social workers should advocate in alliance with families for policy change toward the enhancement of FQoL for families of children with disabilities.