In WHO's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF), 'functioning' refers to the sum total of functions and structures of the body and mind, the actions people perform, and the execution of activities when participating in diverse life situations. These interact with personal and environmental factors. Functioning in childhood and youth is highly dependent on the family. Every family is different, and the concept of family has changed over time and is diverse in different geographic regions of the world. For this Research Topic, we suggest a broad definition such as that proposed by the American Academy of Family Physicians: “A family is a group of individuals with a continuing legal, genetic and/or emotional relationship. Society relies on the family group to provide for the economic and protective needs of individuals, especially those who are vulnerable.”
We invite submissions that take a closer look at how families, their various structures and compositions, individual family relationships, and roles influence the functioning of children and youth in the different domains of their lives. The environmental factor 'Family' in the ICF is not given much detail. A more differentiated view of the significance of individual family relationships, the facilitators and barriers to the child´s development is required. One step towards this goal is the description of research findings and reports focusing on the following topics, among others:
• Assessment of specific family structures or individual family relationships on the development and/or health of children and young people
• Influence of resources, risk, and protective factors
• Family engagement in diagnostics and therapy
• Family engagement in research
• Strategies to strengthen parents as advocates for their children
• Eliciting the voices of children and youth in clinical practice and research
In WHO's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF), 'functioning' refers to the sum total of functions and structures of the body and mind, the actions people perform, and the execution of activities when participating in diverse life situations. These interact with personal and environmental factors. Functioning in childhood and youth is highly dependent on the family. Every family is different, and the concept of family has changed over time and is diverse in different geographic regions of the world. For this Research Topic, we suggest a broad definition such as that proposed by the American Academy of Family Physicians: “A family is a group of individuals with a continuing legal, genetic and/or emotional relationship. Society relies on the family group to provide for the economic and protective needs of individuals, especially those who are vulnerable.”
We invite submissions that take a closer look at how families, their various structures and compositions, individual family relationships, and roles influence the functioning of children and youth in the different domains of their lives. The environmental factor 'Family' in the ICF is not given much detail. A more differentiated view of the significance of individual family relationships, the facilitators and barriers to the child´s development is required. One step towards this goal is the description of research findings and reports focusing on the following topics, among others:
• Assessment of specific family structures or individual family relationships on the development and/or health of children and young people
• Influence of resources, risk, and protective factors
• Family engagement in diagnostics and therapy
• Family engagement in research
• Strategies to strengthen parents as advocates for their children
• Eliciting the voices of children and youth in clinical practice and research
