What Topics Are Covered in the Quick Resources on stepfamilies.info?

Updated

The Quick Resources section on stepfamilies.info links to a set of popular topics and training modules for stepfamily members and the professionals who support them. Based on the site's homepage, the listed resources cover understanding stepfamilies through online training, healthy communication, finding a stepfamily therapist, coping when a spouse is deployed, getting to know your stepchildren, and the ELEVATE relationship program. The list is a curated entry point rather than a full catalog, so treat it as a starting set of topics to explore.

The Quick Resources topics at a glance

Resource What it appears to address
Online Training: Understanding Stepfamilies A training module for learning how stepfamilies work and the issues they commonly face
Healthy Communication in Stepfamilies Communication skills and patterns within stepfamily relationships
Finding a Stepfamily Therapist Guidance on locating a therapist who understands stepfamily dynamics
When a Spouse Is Being Deployed Family coping during a spouse's deployment
Get to Know Your Stepkids Building relationships with stepchildren
ELEVATE: Taking Your Relationship to the Next Level A relationship-strengthening program for couples

The homepage also includes a tribute item ("A Tribute to Peter Gerlach (1938–2015)"), which is a memorial rather than a topic resource.

How these topics fit together

The resources fall into three rough groups:

  • Learning about stepfamilies — the online training module and the communication topic give background on how stepfamilies differ from first families and how to talk through those differences.
  • Getting help — the therapist-finding resource is for families who want professional support, while the deployment topic addresses a specific stressor that can affect the household.
  • Building relationships — "Get to Know Your Stepkids" and ELEVATE focus on strengthening bonds between stepparents and children and between partners.

Related program: Smart Steps

The site's featured program, Smart Steps, is designed for remarried or partnering couples and their children. It aims to build couple and family strengths while addressing issues specific to stepfamilies. Children and adults attend parallel sessions and come together at the end for a shared activity. If you are looking for a structured program rather than standalone readings, Smart Steps is the option highlighted on the homepage; the Quick Resources are better suited to browsing individual topics.

How to use the Quick Resources

Start with the topic that matches your immediate situation — for example, communication if household conflict is the pressing issue, or the therapist resource if you want outside help. The training module is the broadest starting point if you are new to stepfamily research. The homepage does not state prices, registration requirements, or access conditions for these resources, so check each linked page for details before planning to use one.