IMPLEMENTATION OF ADOPTION IN SOUTH AFRICA: PERSPECTIVES FROM PRACTITIONERS IN THE WESTERN CAPE

Authors

  • Jean Luyt Stellenbosch University
  • Leslie Swartz Stellenbosch University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15270/58-2-1041

Keywords:

adoption, alternative care, legal and policy framework, legal policy framework, policy implementation, practitioners, street-level bureaucracy

Abstract

In South Africa adoption as a form of alternative care had decreased despite a supportive legal and policy environment. This qualitative exploratory study explored adoption policy implementation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four social workers and two magistrates implementing adoption in the Western Cape. Data were thematically analysed using Lipsky’s theory of street-level bureaucracy. Results indicate significant problems in implementation, including lack of adoption services by the Department of Social Development (DSD) social workers; overuse of foster care; and difficulties in registration of the birth of abandoned babies and babies assumed to be foreign. Recommendations for practice are provided.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Jean Luyt, Stellenbosch University

Postgraduate student, Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Leslie Swartz, Stellenbosch University

Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Downloads

Published

2022-06-09

How to Cite

Luyt, J. ., & Swartz, L. . (2022). IMPLEMENTATION OF ADOPTION IN SOUTH AFRICA: PERSPECTIVES FROM PRACTITIONERS IN THE WESTERN CAPE. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 58(2), 174–190. https://doi.org/10.15270/58-2-1041

Issue

Vol. 58 No. 2 (2022)

Section

Articles

License

This journal is an open access journal, and the authors  and journal should be properly acknowledged when works are cited.

Authors may use the publishers version for teaching purposes, in books, and with conferences.

The following license applies:

Attribution CC BY-4.0

This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation.

Articles as a whole may not be re-published with another journal.