The Stepfamily Foundation of Alberta

A stepfamily is any spousal union where at least one of the partners has a child, or children from a previous relationship.The family of the new millennium is a stepfamily. There are now more stepfamilies than 'original' or nuclear families.Fifty percent of all children under the age of 13 currently live in some form of a stepfamily.Approximately two thirds of all stepfamilies fail.Thirty percent of all stepfamilies fail within the first two years. Fifty percent fail within the first six years.2Children are seriously impacted by family breakdown. Many experience persisting academic, social, emotional, financial, and relationship difficulties as a direct result of family breakdown.Traditional family therapy only helps about 30% of stepfamilies on the verge of breakdown.