Defining family is a complex task as it has many new contexts in our evolving society. Family is defined simply “as a group of mutually related people bound by blood, interest or merely affective relations” (Mantelo Cecillo et al, 2014). Families today have a variety of terminology to describe the components of its members, but simply “family is who they say they are” (Wright & Leahey, 2013).

Defining family is a complex task as it has many new contexts in our evolving society. Family is defined simply “as a group of mutually related people bound by blood, interest or merely affective relations” (Mantelo Cecillo et al, 2014). Families today have a variety of terminology to describe the components of its members, but simply “family is who they say they are” (Wright & Leahey, 2013).

Assessing the structural components and experiences of the family, a systemic perspective is required. The Calgary Family Assessment and Intervention model (CFAM) was proposed By Wright and Leahey in 2009 as an effective tool. According to Wright and Leahey, family members have a significant impact on the health and well-being of individuals members (Wright & Leahey, 2013). Nurses are required to embrace that illness needs to be treated as a family affair.

The CFAM has three assessment models- structural, developmental and functional- creating a multidimensional view into a perceptive view of the functions of the family unit. The assessment is a quick interview process typically given in no more than 15 minutes (Green, 2018)

Structural Assessment: Includes immediate family composition, gender, sexual orientation, birth order, substyle and boundaries, ethnicity, race, social class and spirituality. Who are the members, & who are the larger community support the family?

Functional Assessment: Evaluating the family routines, activities of Daily living, verbal and non- verbal communication. How is affection shown, concerns and mutual understanding. Who has the power?

Developmental Assessment: This is the historic level of a family by birth, marriage, death and or separations. This reveals the family development, psychosocial and economic influences. Poverty, isolation, lack of access to address basic needs and adequate health care can result in poor health and poses a risk to physical safety.

Once you complete an assessment a separate model is used for interventions. The model is made to be straightforward and easy to apply. Embracing the uniqueness, strengths and understanding the family structure,the nurse can effectively identify problems areas. Understanding health promotion models and applying them to practice leads to increased health education/ literacy and the overall improvement of not the only the individual with health challenges but to the family as a whole (Green, 2017).