Comprehensive Family Assessment Using CFAM and CFIM: A Case Study

This report presents a comprehensive family assessment conducted using the Calgary Family Assessment Model (CFAM) and the Calgary Family Intervention Model (CFIM). The assessment focuses on a family comprising of Nelly Oaks, his wife, and their three children. The analysis encompasses structural, developmental, and functional aspects of the family, including family boundaries, income levels, and health considerations, such as the mother's obesity. The report details observations made during the assessment, particularly regarding communication patterns and family beliefs. The intervention strategies employed, based on the CFIM, are outlined, emphasizing the importance of nurse-family interaction and collaborative approaches to address identified issues. These interventions include encouraging open communication, promoting healthful eating habits, and suggesting regular exercise to manage health problems. The report concludes by highlighting the efficacy of the CFAM and CFIM in evaluating family dynamics and developing targeted solutions for family well-being.

Running head: CFAM and CFIM Assessment 1
Family Assessment and Interventions: A case study using CFAM and CFIM
Student
Institution
Date

Running head: CFAM and CFIM Assessment 2
Table of Contents
Introduction……………………………………………………….3
Family Assessment………………………………………………..3-5
Structural Assessment……………………………………..3
Developmental Assessment………………………………..4
Functional Assessment……………………………………..5
Family Interventions……………………………………………….5-6
Conclusion…………………………………………………………..6-7
Appendix A- Genogram…………………………………………….8
Appendix B- Ecomap……………………………………………….9
References………………………………………………………….10

Running head: CFAM and CFIM Assessment 3
Here is a report of family assessment done based on the Calgary Family Assessment
Model (CFAM) that is divided into three different categories, that is, functional category,
development category and structural category. CFAM is a template that is used in assessing
different families and used in resolving issues surrounding families (Leahey & M, 2016).
During the assessment, the structure of the family was considered where the family was
composed five family members, Nelly Oaks is the head of the family and his White Hellen. They
have three children, Thomas reeves, the first born, Olivia Lea and the last born Liam Samuel.
The family lives a middle class level that is the Mr. Nelly is employed and he owns a business
enterprise which is being run by his wife and the elder son, Thomas Reeves. The family is not
too large however they had recently disintegrated from the large extended family to settle on
their own. (Radovanovic, M , & S, 2013).
The first born of the family too has married and forming a subsystem in the family. And
in the aspect of family boundaries, the family has a type of boundary called clear boundary. It is
a form of boundary in which a highly functioning family has and it defines the authorities of
parents as well giving children their clear development as per their age. That is to say there is
specific areas that older children can access which the young one are not allowed to access. For
instance in this family the Olivia Lea and Liam Samuel are young in the family and more
emphasis is put on them on their education while on the other hand Thomas Reeves is allowed to
access the some family properties like business operation. (Wright, K, & K, 2013).
The family is earning an average income and life not too hard for them, they are able to
make savings and investments from the profit scooped from the business and salary from the
father. The elder son has completed his course study and he is looking for the job of which the
family hopes soon he will be employed which will account to the family wealth. The family

Running head: CFAM and CFIM Assessment 4
origin as revealed by Mr. Nelly the head of the family, they are Canadian citizens by birth and
registration. The family is well related to other neighbors, they interact well with each and also
participate some cultural activities. The family is involved in the community organization that
major on helping poor people like children. The family is a Christian family and they are devoted
in church services and also help in uplift the young soul to Christ.
Though the family is well off financially, this has led to family health problem due to the
life style. The mother is suffering from obesity. When she was interrogated it was found that the
kind of lifestyle causes the problem. Because regular relaxed when she is in the business, she
finds no time to make exercise to reduce the overweight resulted from excess fats stored in the
body. And also the kind of foods and quantity causes results to obesity. Obesity is as a result of
excessive food, lack of exercise and genetics (Phiri & L , 2014).
In the process of conducting the interview there are observations that could be made, for
instance, the expressive function. There is verbal communication amongst the family members
that has developed harmonious conversation in between them (Haefner, 2014), and when a
problem arises the father and mother takes the initiative to help solve the problem as the heads of
the family. The head, that is, father and the first born son have got the influencing power on the
other siblings since they have to lead as others follow hence required to cast a positive influence
to help raise the other siblings uprightly. In relation to the family belief, they are rooted on
Christian believes through the teachings of Christianity hence obscured from traditional believes,
however, they are fully engaged in family ties and alliances for unity and welfare (Östlund,
2014).
In family assessment focusing on Calgary Family Intervention Model that deals with
laying out intervention based on the family efforts and defaults to bring the healing on problems

Running head: CFAM and CFIM Assessment 5
that faces families. It is an interaction between a nurse and the family. The family intervention
model has been known to be the most effective way of dealing with family illness, mental
problems, self and family management. From the assessment, the diagnosis to their various
problems were first creating the confidence the awareness on the competence of nurses on
solving their family issues. This is create good relationship between the family and the nurse so
that whenever there life challenge there pertaining diseases, stress and they are able to speak out
before taking any action that may extend the problem (Persson & E , 2014).
Secondly it was to encourage the family to continue with their good way of
communication which is very effective in the family where every individual is allowed to
express him/herself and in that manner everybody in the family feels contented and it relieves
some ones off depression. The intervention was conducted in different levels so as to get the
general view and life style of the family. First intervention begun with the mother and she open
up to explain some details and how she has been thriving in life and the family affairs and the
nature of relationship that exist between them, then followed by children, elderly son and young
siblings each at a time. This was to ensure that some of the information that could be hidden by
either the parent probably the children could the exact experience they undergo in life
(Svavarsdottir, A, & H, 2015).
Some of the information that was given out by children gave an evidence to the true view
of the parents’ lifestyle. The family was collaborative and interactive during the assessment and
it’s a good family to create unity and help them to improve in their life through regular
interventions. However from some of the challenges experienced in this particular family causes
some health problem that need to be diagnosed. The mother was given the sample of foods that

Running head: CFAM and CFIM Assessment 6
are healthful in diet that would not cause increase the level of fats and also she instructed to
create time for regular exercise to avoid further results of obesity. (Duhamel, M , & J., 2015).
Among other problems there is an intervention plan and health promotion to deal with
such problems. Educate the family on personal choices on the activities to involve in and type of
food to discard, seek medication for continuous checkup to get advice from the health clinical
officers and regular exercise to use more energy hence utilizing the excess fats stored
(Duhamel, M , & J, 2015). This will help her improve her living style. Also to engage various
activities that will keep her busy to avoid stress due to body mass. And to children continual
encouraging them to attend church seminars where they are being taught about the love of God
so that they can keep on being respectful to their parents to avoid giving pressures to their
parents particularly their mother.
Therefore the Calgary Family Assessment Model and Calgary Family Intervention Model
is a body that is concerned to evaluate family problems, and by use of family structure,
development and function they come up with resolutions on family problems (Bell, 2014)

Running head: CFAM and CFIM Assessment 7
Appendix A
Genogram
Nelly Oaks
(59)
White
Hellen (51) Mike
John
(45)
Mary Mercy
(50)
Thomas
Reeves
(35)
Olivia
Lea (30)
Beatrice Frank
(35)
Felix Johnson
(29)
Alice
Zoe (10)
Liam Samuel (16)

Running head: CFAM and CFIM Assessment 8
Appendix B
Ecomap
Nelly Oaks
(59)
White
Hellen (51)
Thomas
Reeves
(35)
Olivia
Lea (20)
Liam Samuel
(16)
Parental
relationship
Church
White’s
family
Health Care
Provider
Extended
Family
School
Community
Family
Security

Running head: CFAM and CFIM Assessment 9
References
Bell, J. M. (2014). Knowledge translation in family nursing: gazing into the promised land.
Duhamel, F. D., M , M. A., & J., G. (2015). Integrating the illness beliefs model in clinical
practice: A family systems nursing knowledge utilization model. Journal of family
nursing, 21(2), 322-348.
Haefner, J. (2014). An application of Bowen family systems theory. Issues in Mental Health
Nursing, pp. 35(11), 835-841.
Leahey, M., & M, W. L. (2016). Application of the Calgary Family Assessment and Intervention
Models: Reflections on the reciprocity between the personal and the professional.
Journal of family nursing, 22(4), 450-459.
Östlund, U. X. (2014). Examining family responses to family systems nursing interventions: an
integrative review. . Journal of Family Nursing, 20(3), 259-286.
Persson, C., & E , B. (2014). Family health conversations: how do they support health? Nursing
research and practice.
Radovanovic, C. A., M , H. P., & S, M. S. (2013). Structural, developmental and functional
evaluation of the family of individuals with arterial hypertension. Revista gaucha de
enfermagem, 34(1), 45-54.
Svavarsdottir, E. K., A, K., & H, G. (2015). The process of translating family nursing knowledge
into clinical practice. Journal of Nursing.
Wright, L. M., K, S. E., & K, S. E. (2013). What are the benefits of a short therapeutic
conversation intervention with acute psychiatric patients and their families? A controlled
before and after study. International Journal.

Running head: CFAM and CFIM Assessment 10
References
Phiri, L. P., & L , K.-A. T. (2014). Nurses’ lifestyle behaviours, health priorities and barriers to living a
healthy lifestyle: a qualitative descriptive study. BMC nursing, 13(1), 38.