《英语流行话题阅读:语境识词4500》39 Multigenerational Families in America

　　Unit 39
Multigenerational Families in America
Today, there are almost four million American multigenerational households (three or more generations living together) according to the new census¹ data. Most multigenerational families fall into one of two types of family structures. One structure include families with the householder, his or her children, and grandchildren. This type of household represents two thirds, or 2.6 million, of the 3.9 million multigenerational families in he US. Often in this family structure, the grandparent or older relative would have the primary caregiving responsibility for the under 18-year-old children. In such cases, these older relatives may feel particular strain on their finances, health and emotional state be cause they are older and are not expecting to care for children at this time in their lives.
Another common multigenerational structure includes a householder plus his/her own children and his/her own parents. In 2000, there were nearly 1.3 million of these types of families in the US in these households, the householder typically was not expecting to be caring for their older relative and is strained by the responsibility of providing for the food, shelter and medical needs of their older relative in addition to the daily demands of rearing children.
Multigenerational families cut across race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. While the majority of multigenerational families in mainland US  are Latino families, Hawaii has the highest percentage of such families (8.2%). here fore², in all of the US, multigenerational families are most commonly Asian, followed by Latino, then African American families.
The number of multigenerational families is expected to increase. This family structure allows families to come together to face the many trials of life, such as raising a child, caring for elders, single parenthood, and high cost of living and housing. Although the multigenerational family creates a safety network among its generations to face their obstacles as a whole, those obstacles still abound³. Multigenerational families face obstacles like the inability to place the children and the elderly on health insurance policies, to obtain affordable⁴ housing, as well as  to enroll⁵ the children in school.
Policies and practices nationally and in states and local communities should recognize several areas of concern for multigenerational families that need to be addressed, including legal relationship, health, education, housing and stress on caregivers.
For instance, many multigenerational families are raising children on a permanent or temporary basis. To establish a legal relationship between family caregivers other than the biological parents and the children they raise, legal proceedings⁶ must be brought. These proceedings are usually lengthy⁷ ad emotionally difficult for everyone involved. The court must reach conclusions about the fitness of the parents and the best interests of the child. These conclusions can strain family relationships, rather than keep the family together.

1 census   

n.(官方的)人口调查，人口普查

参考例句：

• A census of population is taken every ten years.人口普查每10年进行一次。
• The census is taken one time every four years in our country.我国每四年一次人口普查。

2 fore   

adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部

参考例句：

• Your seat is in the fore part of the aircraft.你的座位在飞机的前部。
• I have the gift of fore knowledge.我能够未卜先知。

3 abound   

vi.大量存在；(in，with)充满，富于

参考例句：

• Oranges abound here all the year round.这里一年到头都有很多橙子。
• But problems abound in the management of State-owned companies.但是在国有企业的管理中仍然存在不少问题。

4 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

5 enroll   

v.招收；登记；入学；参军；成为会员（英)enrol

参考例句：

• I should like to enroll all my children in the swimming class.我愿意让我的孩子们都参加游泳班。
• They enroll him as a member of the club.他们吸收他为俱乐部会员。

6 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

7 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。