When meeting a new family, which tool is used to record family members and their relationships, plus significant behavioral and emotional problems?

• A. Genogram
• B. CRAFFT
• C. Pedigree
• D. Ecomap

Answer: (A)

A genogram records who is in the family, how they are related across generations, and notable behavioral or emotional problems. It’s more than a simple family tree: it uses symbols and lines to show relationships (such as marriages, divorces, and stepfamilies) and to annotate health histories, mental health issues, addictions, and significant life events. This creates a visual map that helps clinicians recognize patterns, risk factors, and family dynamics that could affect the child’s care.

The other tools have different focuses. CRAFFT is a quick screening questionnaire for adolescent substance use and isn’t meant to diagram family structure or problems. A pedigree emphasizes genetic inheritance patterns and typically documents medical or genetic conditions rather than behavioral or emotional histories within a family. An ecomap maps a family’s connections to external supports and stressors in the community, not the internal family relationships or psychosocial problems.