By Tracey L. Hurd

What is a family? What does a family do? Who defines family? This twelve-session program provides avenues for in-depth exploration of the diversity, commonality, and meaning of families. Designed for flexible use by junior and/or senior high school youth, the program combines a photo-documentary project with sessions that engage participants in deconstructing and reconstructing the notion of family.

Acknowledgments
From Families

Helen Bishop and Susan Grider wrote the original version of Families, on which this is based, more than a decade ago. Tracey L. Hurd served as writer and developmental editor of the current version. Additional activities were provided by Richard Kimball and Kimi Riegel....
Introduction
From Families

The Program Enduring and changing, the family is an important part of communities and of Unitarian Universalist congregations. Recently, the terms family and family values have become laden with political meanings....
Program Structure
From Families

Each session is outlined with the following sections: Quote A quote introduces the subject of each session. You may decide to read a quote aloud to your group as an entry point to the session. However, the quotes are intended primarily for leaders, and are not always at the youth's level of...
Leader Guidelines
From Families

Families presents two special challenges: (1) sessions for which participants bring guests or sessions when participants who rarely attend are present, and (2) the amount of activity that happens outside of the session period. The former challenge will present itself more in later sessions when...
Implementation
From Families

The heart of this program is the photo-documentary project that places youth in a leadership role, listening, learning, and representing the lives of families in their congregation. Autonomy, creativity, and sensitivity are nurtured in the process. The end product is a visual, artistic...
Before You Start
From Families

Read through the entire program before embarking on it. The photo-documentary project requires behind-the-scenes work of the program leaders, summarized below: Contact congregation leaders, both staff and lay. Enlist their help in recruiting families for the photo-documentation program....
Facilitator Feedback Form
From Families

We welcome your critique of this program, as well as your suggestions. Thank you for your feedback! Your input improves programs for all of our congregations....
Participant Feedback Form
From Families

We welcome your critique of this program, as well as your suggestions. Thank you for your feedback! Your input improves programs for all of our congregations....
Principles and Sources
From Families

There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote: The inherent worth and dignity of every person; Justice, equity and compassion in human relations; Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; A free and responsible...
Workshop 1: Introducing the Program
From Families
Workshop 2: Many Families
From Families
Workshop 3: Our Families
From Families
Workshop 4: Family Photos: The Art Of Photography
From Families
Workshop 5: Methods Of Gathering Narratives And Texts
From Families
Workshop 6: Claiming A Point Of View
From Families
Workshop 7: Families Function: Families Work
From Families
Workshop 8: Families Function: Families Eat
From Families
Workshop 9: Families Function: Families Feel
From Families
Workshop 10: Photos And Stories: Representing Ourselves
From Families
Workshop 11: Representing Others, Representing Ourselves: Putting It All Together
From Families
Workshop 12: Reflection And Celebration
From Families
Handouts in Families
From Families
Leader Resources in Families
From Families