Caring for Chosen Family: A Scoping Review of Clinical Work With Chosen Family

This scoping review provides an overview of empirical research and practice-based literature that addresses direct clinical practice with chosen families-familial relationships that are not based on biology or law. Given the prevalence of chosen family among sexual and gender minorities as well as the amount of research that underlines chosen family as an important social support, this paper aims to synthesize recommendations for clinical work with chosen families and to highlight gaps in the literature. Using the five-step Arksey and O'Malley (2005) scoping review process, four electronic databases were systematically searched to identify papers that address working with chosen family in care-related fields, including social work, couple and family therapy, and nursing. Twenty-seven articles were included in this review and seven themes were identified by these authors that culminated in recommendations for clinical practice: (a) educate oneself about diverse family forms and address biases; (b) invite self-definition of "family"; (c) proactively include chosen family; (d) consider legal and policy barriers; (e) refer chosen family members to sources of support; (f) encourage people to create or maintain chosen family; and (g) engage in sexual and gender minority affirmative practices generally. The existing literature focuses primarily on individual services that involve chosen family as needed, but do not explicitly focus on dynamic and systemic needs. Further research into systemic work with chosen family is needed.