ABSTRACT
Diversity encompasses the many characteristics that may or may not contribute to the ways people experience and act within social worlds. As a professional in the field of human development and family studies (HSFS), one will almost inevitably work with a range of individuals and families from diverse backgrounds and/or with diverse circumstances. Working with families effectively often requires the ability to read social cues, to interpret behavior, to understand context, and to identify potential sources of strength and stress. Family structure refers to the organization of a family unit, and includes its form, composition, and operational patterns and procedures as related to roles and responsibilities. Rather than characterize families as traditional or non-traditional, it is important to recognize that there is a multitude of varying family types that can and do function effectively. Families have always existed in diverse forms, albeit for different reasons from those that are common today.
