Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk

FOSTERING TRIPARTITE PARTNERSHIPS IN SOUTH AFRICA: THE CRITICAL ROLE OF COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN SOCIAL WORK TRAINING INSTITUTIONS AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE WELFARE SECTORS

Poppy Masinga — 2024-12-11

The necessity of collaboration and partnership among key stakeholders in advancing the social work profession in South Africa is evident. Accordingly, the development of formal communication structures between social work training institutions and public-private welfare sectors is strongly encouraged. Initiatives such as joint task teams, working groups, or advisory committees should be established to facilitate streamlined collaboration and partnerships, thereby enhancing the design and delivery of social service programmes. The collaboration of all three key stakeholders is crucial to establishing an effective and efficient social welfare and social work system that responds appropriately to the contextual needs of South Africa. Strengthening and fostering the proposed tripartite collaboration is indispensable for advancing social work research and education, shaping and analysing social policy, and improving social work practice to maximise its societal impact.

OPINIONS OF SOCIAL WORKERS REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH-RELATED CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED WITH CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN SOUTH AFRICAN CHILD AND YOUTH CARE CENTRES

Candice Lee Jacobs — 2024-12-11

The scanty literature on social workers’ opinions on mental health-related challenges encountered with children and adolescents in child and youth care centres prompted the researchers to undertake this contextually designed exploratory-descriptive qualitative research. The study was conducted in South Africa’s Gauteng province, where data were collected through semi-structured online interviews with nine social workers who were recruited through purposive sampling. The data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s data analysis method, while the trustworthiness of the study was rated with reference to Guba and Lincoln’s criteria of credibility, dependability, transferability and confirmability. The opinions shared by social workers addressed general challenges associated with child and adolescent mental health; the impact of these challenges on other people within the centre; and the availability of resources for children and adolescents with mental health-related issues in these centres. The findings indicated the need for partnerships between care centres and training institutions to train social workers, house parents and members of the public.

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MENTAL HEALTH POLICY AND LEGISLATION: IS DEINSTITUTIONALISATION A PREDICAMENT FOR SOCIAL WORKERS AND FAMILIES?

Uwarren September — 2024-12-11

Globally, policy and legislation on mental health have shifted towards deinstitutionalisation. South African policy and legislation were adapted to adhere to international policy directives, resulting in a strong emphasis on reintegrating people with mental illness into their families and communities. The practical implementation of this shift depends on the existence of community-based organisations to support families and persons with mental illness. However, no research is available on the view of social workers on the implementation of mental health policy and legislation and the possible challenges experienced with deinstitutionalisation. To investigate if deinstitutionalisation presented a predicament for social workers and families, a qualitative approach – with exploratory and descriptive research designs – was employed with social workers and their supervisors working at selected psychiatric hospitals. These participants were approached specifically because they are often at the frontline of implementing mental health policy and legislation. It was concluded that existing legislation was superficial, unknown and patient-driven, and that deinstitutionalisation was viewed as an ineffective reintegration strategy. Recommendations are that policymakers must reassess the implications of this legislation and address community-based resources to support the proper deinstitutionalisation of and care for people with mental illness and their families.

EXPLORING THE KNOWLEDGE AND NEEDS OF PARENTS WITH YOUNG PERSONS MISUSING SUBSTANCES

Jan Masombuka — 2024-12-11

Substance misuse amongst young people continues to increase alarmingly. Sadly, parents are expected to rescue the situation and provide support to the young person. This article seeks to explore the knowledge and needs of parents with young persons misusing substances. The study was conducted at the 10 service points of the Gauteng Department of Social Development (DSD), in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (CTMM). A qualitative research approach with non-probability purposive sampling was used to select 10 parents of young persons misusing substances. Face-to-face individual semi-structured interviews based on an interview guide were employed to collect the data. The data were analysed by using Tesch’s eight-step process of analysing factual data. Two themes with associated sub-themes emerged. A need was identified for parents to be better equipped and informed about substance misuse and how to deal with it to enable them to provide appropriate support to young persons.

NEGLECT AND STIGMA: UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS AND MULTIPLE IMPACTS OF SOCIAL EXCLUSION ON CHILDREN FROM DRUG-ABUSING PARENTS

Sumai Sumarni — 2024-12-11

Children growing up with drug-abusing parents are at high risk of experiencing social ostracism from their social environment. Therefore, the aim of this research is to construct a theory based on these children’s experiences in facing the process of social exclusion and to identify the multiple impacts of social exclusion on them. The study was conducted in the fishing community in the city of Makassar, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. Furthermore, grounded theory was selected as the study method. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, which were analysed using open, axial and selective coding. The total number of participants was 41, selected purposively. The basic finding of this study showed that neglect and stigma were the characteristics of social exclusion experienced by children from drug-abusing parents in the fishing community; this usually occurred in three loci, namely family, neighbourhood and school environments. Children experiencing neglect and stigma as a result of drug issues within their family involving both parents (mother and father) will undergo a range of broader impacts of social exclusion, compared to only one parent (father) using drugs. The findings of this research can be directly applied in social work practice to develop more effective interventions and policies to support children from families of drug users in facing social exclusion.

CHALLENGING EXPERIENCES OF CUSTODIAL MOTHERS FOLLOWING THEIR DIVORCE: IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE

Thembelihle Vumokuhle Zondi — 2024-12-11

Although divorce leads to the separation of the parents, it does not proclaim the termination of the relationship between former partners but instead transforms it. Parents usually co-construct their roles to raise their children together. However, many studies have attested that divorce affects women more than men in many respects. This study was driven by the need to explore the challenging experiences of custodial mothers following their divorce. For this qualitative study, eleven custodial mothers who were divorced and co-parenting with former spouses were interviewed. Data were generated through semi-structured face-to-face interviews with open-ended questions in an interview guide. These were subsequently analysed thematically. Through purposive sampling and date collection, six themes emerged from the participants’ narratives. The results revealed that custodial mothers face challenges of strained communication, lone parenting and lack of fathers’ involvement in raising their children. The study recommends educating divorced parents, particularly on family therapy and mediation.

LESSONS FROM A PILOT STUDY OF A ‘CASH PLUS’ FAMILY INTERVENTION FOR CHILD SUPPORT GRANT RECIPIENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Jenita Chiba — 2024-12-11

Cash transfers combined with strengthening interventions are widely advocated to respond to the multi-dimensional needs of children and their families. However, few local evidence-based programmes have been developed and tested. This article reports on the lessons learnt from a pilot study of a cash plus intervention, the Sihleng’imizi programme, delivered to child support grant (CSG) beneficiaries and their families in Soweto, South Africa. A qualitative design was employed. Ten CSG beneficiary families received a twelve-week psycho-educational intervention. Positive changes were observed in caregiver knowledge and skills, engagement of caregivers in children’s schooling, increased financial knowledge and access to social support. The programme was found to be feasible to implement. The study illustrates the application of developmental social work principles in practice and emphasises the importance of training and supervision of social workers to deliver cash plus programmes. However, structural barriers remain, such as socioeconomic challenges facing poor and disadvantaged families.

RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE TRANSRACIALLY ADOPTED CHILD’S BIOLOGICAL FAMILY IN SOUTH AFRICA: EXPERIENCES OF FAMILIES IN CLOSED AND OPEN ADOPTIONS

Jean Luyt — 2024-12-11

Socio-economic and cultural circumstances in South Africa impact on why people place children for adoption, and affect the attitudes towards the biological family, as well as communication and contact between the adoptive and biological families. No research on contact between adoptive and biological families of transracial adoptees has been conducted in South Africa. This exploratory research investigated the attitudes towards biological family and how adoptive families manage communication about and contact with the biological family in closed and open adoptions. Snowball sampling was used to recruit 26 transracial adoptive families with a total of 35 adopted children. Data were gathered through family interviews and focus groups, using the FANI interview method and thematically analysed, using an inductive, iterative approach. Results highlight challenges and tasks for adoptive families, including (1) sharing information about biological families; (2) creating connections with community and culture associated with biological families; (3) communication with biological families; and (4) in-person contact with biological family.

THE TALE OF PROFESSIONAL PARENTING: CAREGIVER EXPERIENCES IN DEALING WITH DELINQUENT CHILDREN IN ZIMBABWE’S RESIDENTIAL CARE CENTRES

Charles Simbarashe Gozho — 2024-12-11

The objective of this study was to investigate the challenges faced by caregivers in handling delinquent behaviours exhibited by children residing in care centres. The study employed a qualitative research methodology in conjunction with a phenomenological research design. Data were gathered from a sample of 10 caregivers and 3 key informants who were purposefully chosen for the study. The data were analysed through the application of interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA), a qualitative research method that involved the identification and development of themes derived from the participants’ own perspectives. The obstacles encountered by caregivers encompassed a multitude of factors, including the burden of their workload, apprehension regarding potential legal conflicts, limited access to comprehensive information about the child’s origin, and the complexities inherent in carer-child interactions. The report proposes that legislative and regulatory evaluations be conducted in order to reduce the period of placement. Additionally, it suggests the implementation of stronger programmes aimed at reducing instances of family separation, as well as the development of an integrated model to treat delinquent behaviour effectively.

ENGAGING WITH MIGRANT LEARNERS AS CO-RESEARCHERS THROUGH PHOTOVOICE: GUIDELINES FOR TRANSFORMING SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH

Agrippa Mabvira — 2024-12-11

In recent years, photovoice has gained considerable traction as a methodological approach for data collection. This article presents a reflexive account of our utilisation of photovoice for a qualitative doctoral research project that sought to capture the acculturation experiences of 12 immigrant adolescent learners in South Africa. Findings of the study offered rich and thick descriptions of co-researchers’ perspectives on how to foster successful acculturation, which is a testament to how photovoice revolutionises conventional research methodologies. Accordingly, this article argues that by embracing photovoice, social workers can develop more culturally sensitive and effective interventions, rooted in authentic experiences of service users. Therefore, this study aims to educate readers by providing a comprehensive overview of the phases that were undertaken in our photovoice project. In addition, the article, explores the benefits and challenges associated with the application of photovoice, shedding light on the intricacies of participant engagement through visual storytelling and illuminating the ways in which this method can augment research outcomes and amplify the voices of marginalised individuals.

PARADOXES OF SELECTED CULTURAL INTERVENTIONS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV IN SOUTH AFRICA: AN AUTOETHNOGRAPHIC REFLECTION

Simon Murote Kang’ethe — 2024-12-11

Using an autoethnographic methodology, and guided by my publications from 2009 to 2023, I reflect on the paradoxes of selected cultural interventions in the fight against HIV. I established that culture aided the fight against HIV through inculcating desirable behaviours, the work of traditional healers, and embracing the principles of ubuntu. Yet, culture was also a liability through advancing cultural stereotypes that promoted male promiscuity, GBV, ulwaluko becoming a vessel of HIV infections, patriarchy, and the rite of ulwaluko condoning excessive alcohol consumption. I have implored South African authorities to accept circumcision as an avenue for reducing HIV/AIDS, with social workers leading the advocacy campaigns.

THE ROUTLEDGE INTERNATIONAL HANDBOOK FOR SOCIAL WORK SUPERVISION

Petro Botha — 2024-12-11

This book on social work supervision is true to its title. It is an international handbook that provides a comprehensive guideline describing supervision theory, practice, and research within the context of countries across the world.