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Children's homes and foster care: challenging dominant discourses in South African social work practice
- Authors:
- PERUMAL Nevashnee, KASIRAM Madhu
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work Maatskaplike Werk, 44(2), June 2008, pp.159-169.
The article addresses key concerns surrounding dominant views of foster care being the best alternative care option for vulnerable children in South Africa. Legislation, policies and infrastructure all support this position, yet family life in South Africa is being corroded by, amongst other factors, HIV/AIDS and poverty. The author cite both ecological and structural theoretical perspectives in furthering this debate.
The problem of African orphans and street children affected by HIV/AIDS: making choices between community-based and institutional care practices
- Author:
- CHAMA Samson Bwalya
- Journal article citation:
- International Social Work, 51(3), May 2008, pp.410-415.
- Publisher:
- Sage
The number of children who have lost either one or both parents to HIV/AIDS in Africa are growing. Street children, including orphans due to HIV/AIDS have emerged as a large high-risk group. This article discusses how to provide care for these children.
South African social workers' knowledge of attachment theory and their perceptions of attachment relationships in foster care supervision
- Authors:
- LESCH E., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 35(7), 2013, pp.1101-1109.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Twenty South African social workers' were interviewed about their knowledge of attachment theory and their perceptions of attachment relationships in their own foster care work. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interviews. Social workers were found to have limited knowledge of attachment theory and interventions; experienced most biological parents as unmotivated to improve their circumstances and attachment relationships with children; indicated that family reunifications were rare occurrences; reported foster parents were mostly kin; and experienced constraining contextual factors that hindered optimal consideration of attachment relationships in foster care supervision. (Edited publisher abstract)
The competency base of social workers with respect to attachment theory in foster care supervision: a pilot study
- Authors:
- BOTES Wezet, RYKE Elma
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work Maatskaplike Werk, 47(1), March 2011, pp.31-50.
Attachment theory has in recent years been applied to the fields of adoption and foster care. It has become apparent that a better understanding of attachment-related issues by the social workers that do foster placements and supervision may have a positive impact on placement stability. The aim of this study was to explore the extent of social workers’ knowledge and practical application regarding foundation concepts of attachment theory, and what they perceive their knowledge and use in practice to be in the context of foster care supervision. A questionnaire was completed by 17 social workers employed by Child Welfare Tshwane, South Africa who deal with foster care placement supervision and assessment. The results suggest that, although the social workers know that the quality of the relationship between the foster parents and the child is predictive of the success of the placement and apply a common-sense sensitivity to attachment related issues, they do not have sufficient grounding in attachment theory to be able to provide effective intervention regarding attachment-based concerns within the foster care context.
Cluster foster care: a panacea for the care of children in the era of HIV/AIDS or an MCQ?
- Authors:
- GALLINETTI Jacqui, SLOTH-NIELSEN Julia
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work Maatskaplike Werk, 46(4), October 2010, pp.486-495.
The South African Children’s Act 38 of 2005 is arguably the first legislative instrument internationally to provide for cluster foster care. This article provides an analysis of existing law and policy relating to cluster foster care in South Africa. Cluster foster care is described as a scheme which provides a grouping of caregivers who are linked together to provide mutual support in the care of a number of children. The article discusses the differences between cluster foster care and traditional children’s homes. The legal and social underpinning of cluster foster care, juxtaposed to conventional foster care, are examined and situated within contemporary social norms. The recent UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children are also examined. The analysis discusses various models which are purported to constitute cluster foster care, and the question is posed whether cluster foster care rests on a single theoretical model, or whether it is an empty vessel in which a multitude of overlapping models can be accommodated. It concludes that cluster foster care remains elusive and vague, and will undoubtedly result in disparate implementation at provincial level.
Living in foster care in a children's home: voices of children and their caregivers
- Authors:
- PERUMAL Nevashnee, KASIRAM Madhu
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work Maatskaplike Werk, 45(2), June 2009, pp.198-206.
The results from this exploratory study are presented using ecological and structural theoretical perspectives. Structural deficiencies in South African child care practice are exposed whilst highlighting the goodness of fit that needs to exist across concentric spheres of interrelationship in child and family life.
Transracial placements of children in the Durban metropolitan area
- Author:
- LEDDERBOGE U.F.
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work Maatskaplike Werk, 33(4), 1997, pp.333-342.
Discusses the issues relating to transracial placement in the context of South Africa. Provides a case vignette to illustrate the issues.
Circumstances of foster children and their foster parents affected by HIV and AIDS
- Authors:
- ROUX Adri, BUNGANE Xoliswa, STRYDOM Corinne
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work Maatskaplike Werk, 46(1), March 2010, pp.44-56.
HIV and AIDS have a major impact on foster care, with both foster children and foster parents having specific needs. This study examines the circumstances of these children and their parents, and the social work services offered to them, in the Motheo District in the Free State province in South Africa. The study identified 21 children between the ages of 14 and 17 years, along with their parents, to participate in this research. A simple self administered survey was used to collect data from both the children and their parents. Eighty five percent of household received a foster grant, but only 8% received a salary. Fifty two percent of children did not know why they were in foster care, with the remaining due to family deaths. Asked whether anyone in the family was affected by HIV/AIDS, 33% of the foster children said yes, 57% said no, with the remaining uncertain. The authors conclude that foster parents affected by HIV/AIDS needed help with different aspects such as communicating with the child about the disease, handling conflict and administering discipline. Previous studies have shown that families affected by HIV/AIDS have little access to social workers, but that the role of these workers is essential to the families. The author summarises by saying that with the rate at which families affected by HIV/AIDS is growing makes it difficult for social workers to manage their workloads.
Supporting familial and community care for children: legislative reform and implementation challenges in South Africa
- Authors:
- MATTHIAS Carmel R., ZAAL F. Noel
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Social Welfare, 18(3), July 2009, pp.291-298.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This article critically evaluates important legislative reforms in South Africa, which, at the height of the AIDS pandemic, are intended to reduce the need for removing children from their families or communities. In a textual analysis of the 2005 Children's Act and the 2006 Children's Act Amendment Bill, the shift in focus from individual interventions to a developmental approach incorporating prevention and early intervention is explained. New family service and alternative care orders such as partial care, shared care, cluster care and support for child-headed households are described. Although these creative solutions have considerable potential, there are gaps in the legislation that require supplementary wording. Drawing on the work of researchers and commentators, it is also shown that an inappropriate approach towards implementation has commenced, which harms rather than assists children. Recommendations are made for improving implementation that may be of relevance to other countries faced with similar challenges.
Transforming adoption in the 'new' South Africa in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic
- Author:
- HARBER Mary
- Journal article citation:
- Adoption and Fostering, 23(1), Spring 1999, pp.6-15.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This article looks at the implications of HIV/AIDS for the mainly black South African children and families affected by the epidemic and considers the consequences for child welfare organisations. It looks in particular at the role of adoption in South Africa and its potential to become a viable model of care for children affected by HIV/AIDS. It presents the results of research undertaken by the author which examined the achievements of, and dilemmas faced by, one child welfare agency as it attempted to adapt the 'Western' model of adoption, which is prevalent in South Africa, in order to create a more appropriate service for black South African children.