12th March 11.30-12.30
This exchange was organised for COFACE members to take stock of challenges for blended families.
Blended families, also known as stepfamilies or recomposed families, are increasingly common across Europe due to rising rates of divorce, remarriage, and cohabitation. These families typically consist of a couple and their children from previous relationships.
Blended families in Europe reflect broader societal changes. While challenges persist, increasing legal recognition and societal support are helping normalise and strengthen these family structures.
Keynote speakers
Annemie Drieskens, Gezinsbond (Ligue of Families), Belgium
Heidi Karvonen, The Stepfamily Association of Finland (Supli)
Professor Angela Abela PhD Department of Child and Family Studies, University of Malta
Key points discussed
- Definition & Prevalence of Blended Families
- Emotional challenges of step families
- Financial difficulties they face the reasons for this
- Legal gaps and policy recommendations
- Support programmes in Finland
- International perspectives and research
Resources
- Family Cabinet Flanders (Belgium): The Family Cabinet The Family Cabinet project focuses on the questions and needs of families in order to work with families to find solutions to current problems and bottlenecks that families are facing.
- Step Families of Finland: https://supli.fi/en/
- rEUsilience research which discusses the inadequacy of EU social surveys to capture family relations across households
- 1st International Conference on blended families: 1st International Conference on Strong Blended Families: Understanding What Works – Newspoint – University of Malta
- How are large families formed? Blood and step families with three or more children in Hungary
