Gesinsherenigingsdienste vanuit die kinderhuis

Date
2002-04
Authors
Lerwick, Susan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An exploratory study was undertaken to examine the possibility of rendering family reunification services from within children's homes. The goal of the study was to make recommendations with regard to the implementation of this service by children's homes. A literature study was undertaken to investigate the effect of a child's statutory removal, examine the existing government policy regarding children and families. The theory and unique characteristics of family reunification services were also investigated. The social workers from the four children's homes in the Western Cape that are managed by a commission of the Dutch Reformed Church were involved in the empirical study. The social workers each had to complete a questionnaire regarding their opinion about the rendering of family reunification services from within the children's homes. The results showed that the majority of the social workers were in favour of the rendering of family reunification services, but they felt that it should be undertaken in conjunction with the external organizations, that referred the children to them. Several obstacles in the rendering of this service was also identified by this study. It was also found that the majority of the children in the children's homes have been there for longer than two years, which further accentuated the necessity of this service. Based on the findings of the literature study, as well as the results of the empirical study recommendations were made regarding the implementation of family reunification services as a co-operative effort between the children's homes and other relevant external organizations. These recommendations are applicable to other children's homes with cognisance of their individual differences.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: en Verkennende studie is onderneem om die moontlikheid te ondersoek vir die lewering van gesinsherenigingsdienste vanuit die kinderhuis. Die uiteindelike doel was om aanbevelings te maak ten opsigte van die implementering van hierdie diens binne die kinderhuis se werksaamhede. enLiteratuurstudie is onderneem om die effek van enkind se statutêre verwydering te ondersoek, asook die staat se beleid ten opsigte van kinders en gesinne. Ondersoek is ook ingestel na die teorie en die eiesoortige kenmerke van gesinsherenigingsdienste as intervensiemetode. Die maatskaplike werkers wat werksaam is by die vier kinderhuise in die Wes- Kaap wat onder beheer van die N.G. Kerk se Sinodale Kommissie vir die Diens van Barmhartigheid staan, is in die empiriese ondersoek betrek. Die maatskaplike werkers het elkeen en vraelys voltooi om hulopinie te verkry omtrent die haalbaarheid van gesinsherenigingsdienste vanuit kinderhuise. Die resultate het getoon dat die meerderheid maatskaplike werkers positief gesind is jeens die implementering van gesinsherenigingsdienste. Hierdie diens moet volgens die respondente egter nie alleen vanuit die kinderhuis onderneem word nie, maar in spanverband met die betrokke eksterne organisasies. Verskeie hindernisse in die uitvoering van hierdie diens is identifiseer. Daar is ook bevind dat die meerderheid van die kinders in die kinderhuise vir langer as twee jaar reeds in die kinderhuis se sorg verkeer, wat die noodsaaklikheid van die diens verder beklemtoon het. Op grond van die ondersoek en die reslutate is aanbevelings gemaak ten opsigte van die implementering van gesinsherenigingsdienste vanuit die kinderhuis in samewerking met die betrokke eksterne organisasies. Die aanbevelings van hierdie ondersoek is van toepassing op kinderhuise in die algemeen met die nodige in ag neming van hul individuele verskille.
Description
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002.
Keywords
Social work with children -- South Africa, Children -- Institutional care -- South Africa, Custody of children -- South Africa, Family social work -- South Africa, Dissertations -- Social work, Reunification services, Family reunification services, Children's homes
Citation