The phenomenon of interracial couples who are also parents is on the increase in South Africa, since one in every four marriages is interracial. An empirical study was undertaken to conduct applied, exploratory, descriptive, evidence-based research to describe the perspectives of interracial parents as related to Gestalt Theory, parenting challenges and strategies towards a sense of self and cultural identity of their children. A qualitative approach utilizing an open ended questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with six interracial parent couples was transcribed and analysed. The study concluded that interracial parent couples’, in respect of dealing with societal-non-acceptance of themselves and their “mixed” children, utilize several strategies including avoidance and focusing on the positive; that certain aspects play a vital role in the formation of their children’s sense of self and cultural identity such as religion or faith and both parental identities.The implication of this research is that despite the challenges there are no marked effects on their children’s identity and that interracial parenting strategies must be sound. / Social Work / M.A. Diac. (Play Therapy)

In Suid-Afrika word kinders dikwels opgeneem in die Intensiewesorgeenheid na 'n traumatiese gebeurtenis. Die Kerk het die opdrag om vir hierdie kinders te sorg en wel in die vorm van pastoraat. In die praktyk ontvang kinders egter nie altyd die sorg waarop hulle geregtig is nie. Een van die faktore waarom dit nie altyd gebeur nie, is omdat daar gebruik gemaak word van 'n intervensie metode wat steun op verbale kommuniekasievaardighede. Die ses stappe van intervensienavorsing is gebruik om 'n pastorale praktykmodel in die vorm van 'n kursus te ontwikkel. Die aanvanklike praktykmodel is in gevallestudies getoets en later verfyn. Die klem van hierdie praktykmodel is die gebruik van spel as modus van intervensie vanuit 'n Gestalt benadering. Die kursus sal pastors en geestelike werkers in staat stel om effektief vir kinders te sorg. Die hoofkonsepte van die navorsing vorm die vertrekpunte van die kursus saam met praktiese oefeninge in spelterapietegnieke. / Many children in South-Africa are admitted in the Intensive Care Unit after a traumatic event. The Church is called to care for these children in the form of pastoral care. In practise children are often neglected and do not receive the care that they are entiteld to. One of the main reasons is because pastors and religious workers use an intervention method that depends mainly on the verbal skills of the child. The six steps of intervention research was used to develop a pastoral model in the form of course. The innitial intervention model was tested in case studies and refined. The focus of this model is to use play as a mode of intervention from a Gestalt approach. The course will enable pastors and religious workers to care for children more effectively. The main concepts of the research forms the basis of this model with practical excercises. / Social Work / D. Diac. (Spelterapie)

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in English and Afrikaans / Narratiewe navors:ing is gedoen om vas te stel watter rol geloof speel in die aanneemgesin. Onderhoudvoering met aanneemouers het die kernfaktor in die funksionering van die gesin as die aanvaarding of verwerping van die verskil tussen gesinne wat deur aanneming saamgestel is en gesinne wat deur geboorte saamgestel is, uitgewys. V erwerping strem verhoudinge binne die gesin, maak die gesin kwesbaar vir stres en vervreemding tussen ouer en kind. Aanvaarding, aan die antler kant, beteken dat die ouer die behoefte van sy kind om met sy natuurlike ouers in aanrak:ing te kom, erken. So 'n houding bring 'n verbetering in die ouer-kindverhouding mee en gevolglik ook in die vennoe om ontwikkelingskrisisse te hanteer. Geloofkan 'n rol speel om an.gs en selftwyfel by die aanneemouers as gevolg van die onnatuurlike samestelling van die gesin te besweer, sodat hulle die verskil aanvaar en sodoende 'n gesonder perspektief op gesinwees ontwikkel. / Narrative research was done in order to establish the role of faith in the adoptive family. In interviews with adoptive parents it was found that the crucial factor in the functioning of the family is the acceptance or rejection of the differences between families created by adoption and those created by childbirth. Rejection hampers relationships within the family and renders it vulnerable to stress and enstrangement between parent and child. Acceptance on the other hand means that the parent recognises the need of the child to connect with his birth parents. This latter attitude results in improved relationships between parent and child and in more effectiveness in coping with developmental crises. Faith can play a role to cl.ispell the anxciety and self-doubt of adoptive parents resulting from the unnatural constitution of their family, accept the differences and in that way may contribute to a healthier perspective on the family. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / M.Th.(Pastoral Theraphy)

Text in Afrikaans / Die Kerk van God bestaan uit mense wat tot geloof gekom het in Jesus Christus. Volwassenes maak nie alleen deel uit van die kerk nie, maar ook kinders. Die plaaslike gemeente se roeping is om in sy bedieningstrategie te fokus op die behoeftes van die kind (6 - 12 jaar). Die leefwereld van die kind binne die geografiese grense van Nelspoort, Murraysburg, Merweville en Beaufort-Wes word sterk beinvloed deur gebrekkige sosio-ekonomiese en politieke toestande. Die V.G.K., wat daarvoor verantwoordelik is om die kinders (6-12 jaar) in genoemde dorpe te bedien, slaag nie daarin om 'n effektiewe bediening te loods nie. Gebrek aan opgeleide personeel, basiese lesmateriaal en gebrekkige kennis van die ontwikkelingsfases van die kind in genoemde ouderdomsgroep vererger die situasie. Die studie bied riglyne vir die V.G.K. op die platteland om 'n meer effektiewe kinderbedieningstrategie (plattelandse kind) daar te stel, wat die unieke behoeftes en spesifieke omstandighede waarin kinders lewe, asook die ontwikkelingsfases waarin hulle verkeer, uit te lig. / The Church of God consists of people (Adults and Children) who believe in God. The local congregation focus on the needs of the child (6-12 years). The enviroment of the child who lives within the geographic boundaries of Nelspoort, Murraysburg, Merweville and Beaufort West is influenced by retarted sosio-economic and political circumstances. The U.R.C. which serve the child (6-12 years) in the afore mentioned towns, fails to initiate and implement an effective service. Lack of trained staff, basic learning material and insufficient knowledge of the development phases of the child within the mentioned age groups exacerbates the situation. The study offers guidelines for the U.R.C. (rural) to have a more effective child service strategy (rural children) in place which attends to the unique needs and specific circumstances under which the children live as well as the developmental phases they are in. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / M. Diac. (Jeugwerk)

Text in English / The literature review indicated similarities between education and chess playing and possible transfer of knowledge between these two different domains. A link was then suggested between some aspects of intellectual abilities and chess instruction in children, but not in adults (Frydman & Lynn, 1992; Waters, Doll & Mayr, 1987). In this research study the aim was to explore the relationship between chess playing and cognitive and intellectual development in Grade R learners at Garsieland. Therefore the positive influence that chess playing brings to bear on the intelligence of 64 Grade R learners (as measured on intelligence scales) was investigated. The data was collected through short biographical questionnaires and psychometric tests and the participants in both groups were assessed on two occasions. The study suggested that chess instruction exerted a positive (small) effect on Performance intelligence and subsequently on the Global scale of the Junior South African Intelligence Scales. The children in both groups also exhibited improved cognitive development after the 40 week period during 2009. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Applied Science in Food and Nutrition, Durban University of Technology, 2015. / Objective: To determine the contribution of packed school lunches to the daily food intake of girls and boys in two Primary Schools in East London. Methods: The study was conducted among 199 girls and boys aged 9-13 years. Three 24-Hour recalls and a Food Frequency Questionnaire were completed during an interview with the participants to gather data on dietary patterns over a period of three consecutive days. Additionally, the contents of one lunch box per participant were recorded and weighed. Anthropometrics and socio-demographics were also completed during the interview. Results: The three 24-Hour Recall nutrient measurements revealed a low energy intake in 91 percent for the girls and 77 percent for the boys who were consuming below the recommended Estimated Energy Requirement for energy. The lunchboxes contributed one-third of the daily nutrient intake of the children. The 24-Hour recall revealed an energy-dense, carbohydrate-based diet. The contribution of total fat (30-32%) to the total energy is higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of 15-30 percent. The daily fruit and vegetable intake (215.1g and 216.9g), according to the 24-Hour recall and lunchbox analysis respectively, was insufficient compared to the WHO-recommendation of >400g /day. Although the mean intake of most of the nutrients was sufficient, a large number of the participants did not meet requirements for the age group. The risk of overweight was high (24% for girls and 29.2% for boys) with 1.5 percent falling into the obese category. Conclusion: The results of the study indicated a high-fat and carbohydrate intake and a very low fruit and vegetable intake. The girl participants had better food choices for the lunchboxes but the majority of the participant’s daily intake did not meet the basic requirements of a balanced diet. The risk of overweight in the age category is an increasing problem among low- and high-income countries. Nutritional education should concentrate on healthy food choices in school lunchboxes as a large part of the day is spent at school.

Child pedestrian injury and mortality is an issue of significant public health concern in the city of Johannesburg, Gauteng, in South Africa. Since there is a paucity of studies in the last decade or more on fatal childhood traffic and non-traffic injuries in Johannesburg, this study aspires to address the disproportion in this domain of research, and provide more recent, and comprehensive empirical evidence over a ten-year period. The overarching aim of this study was to describe and examine the magnitude, circumstances, and neighbourhood characteristics of fatal pedestrian injuries among children (0-14 years) in Johannesburg for the period from 2001 to 2010. More specifically, the objectives of the study were: firstly, to provide a comprehensive epidemiological description of the magnitude, trends and occurrence of pedestrian mortality among children; secondly, to describe and examine the epidemiology of child pedestrian mortality in relation to children as motor vehicle passengers; thirdly, to describe and examine child pedestrian mortality in relation to non-traffic injuries, in particular, burns and drowning; and fourthly, to assess the influence of neighbourhood characteristics on child pedestrian mortality. The study conceptualised pedestrian road safety within an ecological systems framework. The study used quantitative descriptive, and multivariate logistic regression methods of analysis to examine child pedestrian mortality data. The study drew on data from the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS) and the Census 2001. The main findings indicated that black, male children aged 5 to 9 years (11.02/100 000) are the most vulnerable, and that mortality occurred predominantly during the afternoons and early evenings (12h00-16h00 and 16h00-21h00), over weekends, during school holidays, and to a lesser extent, during non-holiday months. In addition, neighbourhood characteristics that reflected concentrations of disadvantage, single female-headed households and residentially stable areas were associated with child pedestrian mortality. The study findings highlight the need for critical action in terms of investment in child pedestrian safety research, and appropriate prevention initiatives guided by stringent evidenced-based studies, and the design of safe pedestrian, vehicular and urban environments. / Psychology / D. Phil. (Psychology)

Thesis (MTh)(Practical Theology and Missiology)--University of Stellenbosch, 1997 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The church is commissioned to make disciples by baptising them and teaching them what the Head of the church, Jesus Christ, taught his disciples. One of the accents in recent literature is that faith development (making disciples) is also a socialising process. The church is one of the socialising agents and plays a special role in the faith development of each individual member, and especially in the faith development of the child. According to developmental psychology a special developmental task of the pre-school years is socialization. These years are very important for socialising in general, and therefore for faith development as a socialising process. How successful is the socialising process when the pre-schoolers comprise a very small part of a congregation? The Dutch Reformed Church Stellenbosch- Sentraal has an aging congregation; pre-schoolers comprise a mere 3% of its members. If they do not experience that they belong to the congregation and if there are insufficient opportunities for them to take part in congregational activities the necessary faith development (in so far as it'comprises socialization) is impaired.The body of the church should communicate to pre-schoolers that they form part of the body. In our era of electronic communication it may happen that communication between congregation and pre-schooler is unsuccessful when the congregation do not communicate purposefully and in the language and in the range of perception of the pre-schooler of this era. The question is therefore posed: How effectively does the Dutch Reformed Church Stellenbosch- Sentraal communicate to its pre-schoolers that they are part of the body of this church? In order to answer this question one should study the results of the communication process of the pre-schoolers. One should look at the cognitive contents already established in the pre-schoolers, but this alone can be misleading. The author holds the opinion that pre-schoolers form perceptions about the congregation in the process of communication. Their perceptions form a positive or negative filter through which all further communication is sent. If the pre-schoolers have positive perceptions of this congregation, it will be conducive to further faith development. The problem is therefore posed: Do the perceptions of the pre-schoolers of the Dutch Reformed Church Stellenbosch-Sentraal on the congregation show that they associate themselves positively with the congregation? An answer to this question will enable the local church to evaluate whether it understands its role as socialising agent in faith development. This may lead to adjustments in its ministry. For the Christian church in general the processes taking place and being described in one specific congregation may lead to reflection and evaluating of similar processes taking place within every Christian church. Such reflection is even more necessary in our secularised pluralistic world, a world in which the Christian church wishes to maintain the uniqueness and necessity of the Biblical salvation message. With the aim of discovering and describing their perceptions, all pre-schoolers in the congregation born between 01-01-1989 and 31-12-1990 were selected and methods were designed to reveal and describe their perceptions about the congregation. Their perceptions were revealed and described through kinetic drawings (interpreted by more than one person), the design of a projective measuring instrument with pictures and reporting (conversations). At the same time the attitude of the congregation towards these pre-schoolers were gauged by means of participant observation and in a random opinion poll. Conclusions Although the researcher had (thanks to the research!) very good relations with most of the pre-schoolers and they probably were inclined to give answers which they would regard as having a positive influence on that relationship, their answers during conversations with them point to positive perceptions of aspects of the congregation of which they are part. Their good relationship with the researcher is one of these positive aspects. It does not however necessarily follow that positive perceptions are in the majority. There are negative perceptions as well. Some positive remarks made by the pre-schoolers were cancelled in part by remarks by their parents indicating that they objected to going to some of the meetings of the church. They used some surprising concepts about the congregation. In so far as faith development contains a knowledge component (faith = knowledge + trust) it can be accepted that the concepts that they use at the moment will form an important basis for further faith development. Perceptions, unlike concepts, suggest something about the relationship between subject (child) and object (congregation). The concepts do not necessarily point to the existence of positive perceptions about the congregation. However, the researcher found that the cognitive basis was supported by a moderately positive affective component. It seems that there are several elements of enjoymenU pleasantness in • the socialising (fellowship) of the smaller primary gatherings such as family prayers and get-togethers of a few families, • the service aspect of outreaches to small children in squatter camps at secondary meetings such as "kinderkrans", the weekly children's meeting (empathy, compassion, missions) • and the festive elements such as singing, lighting of candles, and going to the pulpit in family services as tertiary meetings. Whether these positive experiences resonate sufficiently in the words, deeds and attitudes of other (adult) members of the church remains to be seen. The research has shown that the congregation is making adaptations in order to heighten the effectiveness of its communication and that the pre-schoolers point to these elements as pleasant congregational experiences. The research also showed that pre-school children need symbols to express their identification with the congregation. The church council should therefore stress representative symbol communication and rituals in a building without important symbols such as a tower and bells, and where the neighbouring church building is rich in symbols. However, effective communication within a congregation is not only about visible symbols and rituals, but are about communication which is born in the heart of a loving Father God. In union with Jesus Christ, his Son and Head of the body of the church, members are involved in a great communication process of which the content may be typified as gospel (good news). In order to talk about effective communication, the congregation should listen to and search for the vision of God, and they should expect the Creator Spirit to grant the congregation gifts that can be used in the new communication era in order to further the evangelical dialogue between God and the pre-school child (amongst others) and between the congregation and the pre-school child. Should the congregation not grasp that each member is there for the sake of others, the congregation is in danger of breaking up in generational or other groupings, not grasping the benefits from inter-generational gatherings where each group can contribute towards the faith development of other groups. When harmony, reconciliation and supplementation are pursued in a pluriform way in the worship and service programmes of the congregation, the pre-schooler should not be absent. When the pre-schooler forms part of this kind of worship, he finds his own meaning. The congregation is the setting where this glorification of God is realised in the temporal. If this research contributes towards empowering the congregation to incorporate the pre-school children of the congregation in congregational activities in honour of God, to glorify Him, then this research may be regarded as the practice of successful practical theology. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:Die gemeente het die opdrag om dissipels te maak deur hulle te doop en alles te leer wat die Hoof van die gemeente, Jesus Christus, sy volgelinge beveel het. Een van die beklemtonings in die meer resente Iiteratuur is dat geloofsvorming (om dissipels te maak) o.a. 'n sosialiseringsproses is. Die gemeente is een van die besondere sosialiseringsagente en speel 'n spesiale ral in die vorming van die geloof van elke indiwiduele lidmaat, en in besonder die geloofsvorming van die kind. In die kleuterjare is sosialisering volgens die ontwikkelingsielkunde "n spesiale ontwikkelingstaak. Die kleuterjare is dus besonder belangrik vir sosialisering in die algemeen, maar dan ook vir geloofsvorming as 'n sosialiseringsproses. Hoe geslaagd is hierdie sosialiseringsproses wanneer die kleuters 'n baie klein persentasie van 'n gemeente uitmaak? Die Ned. Geref. Kerk Stellenbosch- Sentraal is 'n verouderende gemeente waarvan slegs 3% van sy lidmate voorskools is. Sonder die ervaring dat hulle aan die gemeente behoort, en sonder genoeg geleentheid tot deelname aan die aktiwiteite van die gemeente, word die nodige geloofsvorming (in soverre dit sosialisering is), benadeel. Die gemeenteliggaam behoort aan die kleuters te kommunikeer dat hulle deel is van die gemeente. In die nuwe elektroniese kommunikasie-era mag dit egter gebeur dat die kommunikasie tussen gemeente en kleuter nie staag nie, omdat die gemeente nie doelgerig, in die taal en belewingswereld van die kleuter van hierdie era kommunikeer nie. Die vraag word dus gestel: Hoe effektief kommunikeer die Ned. Geref. Kerk Stellenbosch-Sentraal aan sy kleuters dat hulle deel van die gemeenteliggaam is? Om hierdie vraag te beantwoord, kan 'n mens probeer kyk na resultate van die kommunikasieproses by die kleuters. 'n Mens sou kon kyk na die kognitiewe inhoude wat reeds by die kleuters gevestig het, maar dit aileen kan misleidend wees. Die navorser is van oordeel dat die kleuters in die kommunikasieproses persepsies oor die gemeente vorm. Hierdie persepsies vorm 'n positiewe of negatiewe filter waardeur aile verdere kommunikasie gestuur word. Indien die kleuters dus positiewe persepsies van die gemeente het, kan dit bevorderlik wees vir verdere geloofsvorming. Daarom lui die probleemstelling: Dui die persepsies wat die kleuters van die Ned. Geref. Kerk Stellenbosch-Sentraal oor die gemeente het daarop dat hulle hulleself positief met die gemeente verbind? 'n Antwoord op hierdie vraag kan die plaaslike gemeente help om te evalueer of hy sy rol as sosialiseringsagent in die geloofsvorming verstaan. Dit kan lei tot aanpassings in die bedieningspraktyk. Vir die Christelike kerk in die algemeen kan die prosesse wat in een gemeente gebeur en beskryf word, lei tot besinning en evaluering van dieselfde prosesse wat binne elke Christelike gemeente plaasvind. Hierdie besinning is des te meer noodsaaklik in 'n gesekulariseerde pluralistiese wereld, waarbinne die Christelike Kerk die uniekheid en noodsaaklikheid van die Bybelse verlossingsboodskap wil handhaaf. Met 'n eksplorerend-beskrywend doel voor oe is all die kleuters wat aan die gemeente behoort en wat tussen 01-01-1989 en 31-12-1990 gebore is, geselekteer en metodes ontwerp om hulle persepsies oor die gemeente aan die Iig te bring en te beskryf. Deur kinetiese tekeninge (wat deur meer as een persoon ge'interpreteer is), die ontwerp van 'n projektiewe meetinstrument met prente, en selfrapportering (gesprekke) is die persepsies van die kleuters ontbloot en beskryf. Terselfdertyd is die houding van die gemeente teenoor hierdie kleuters gepeil deur middel van deelnemende waarneming en in 'n steekproef-meningsopname. Gevolgtrekkings: Alhoewel die navorser (danksy die navorsing!) op baie goeie voet met die meeste kleuters geplaas is en kleuters in gesprekke waarskynlik ook antwoorde gegee het wat hulle as bevorderlik vir die verhouding tussen hulle en die navorser kon beskou, wil dit tog voorkom asof die kleuters aangename persepsies oor aspekte van die gemeenteliggaam het. Die positiewe verhouding met die navorser op sigself is een so 'n positiewe aspek. Dit beteken egter nie noodwendig dat daar 'n oorwig van aangename persepsies is nie. Daar is ook negatiewe persepsies. Positiewe opmerkings deur kleuters oor aktiwiteite word gedeeltelik uitgekanselleer deur opmerkings van kleuterouers wat aandui dat hulle protesteer teen sekere soort byeenkomste. Die kleuters het In aantal verrassende konsepte rondom die gemeente gebruik. In soverre geloofsvorming ook 'n kenniskomponent het (geloof = kennis + vertroue), kan daar aanvaar word dat die begrippe wat die kleuters tans hanteer 'n belangrike onderbou vorm vir verdere geloofsvorming. Persepsies, anders as konsepte, suggereer egter iets van die verhouding tussen die subjek (kleuter) en die objek (gemeente). Die konsepte dui dus nie sonder meer die bestaan van positiewe persepsies oor die gemeente aan nie. Die navorser het egter ook waargeneem dat die kognitiewe onderbou ondersteun word deur 'n redelik positiewe affektiewe komponent. Daar is genoeg aanduiding dat daar heelwat elemente van genieting/aangenaamheid is in • die sosialisering ('fellowship') by veral die kleiner primere byeenkomste soos by huisgodsdiens en wanneer 'n paar gesinne bymekaar kom, • die diensgerigtheid en uitreike na kleuters van die nabygelee plakkers-area by die sekondere groeperings soos die kinderkrans (empatie, barmhartigheid, sending), • en die vieringselemente soos die sang, aansteek van kerse, beweging na die liturgiese ruimte by die gesinsdienste as tersiere byeenkomste. Of hierdie aangename ervarings genoegsaam resoneer in die woorde, dade en houdings van ander (volwasse) lidmate, bly 'n ope vraag. Die navorsing het aangetoon dat die gemeente aanpassings maak om die effektiwiteit van die kommunikasie te verhoog en dat die kleuters juis na hierdie vernuwende elemente verwys as aangename gemeente-ervarings. Die navorsing het egter ook aangetoon dat kleuters visuele simbole nodig het om uitdrukking te gee aan hulle gemeente-identiteit. Die kerkraad behoort erns te maak met die representatiewe simboolkommunikasie en rituele in 'n kerkgebou waar belangrike simbole soos die toring en klokke ontbreek, en waar die buurgemeente se kerkgebou besonder ryk is aan simbole. Effektiewe kommunikasie binne gemeenteverband het egter nie net te doen met uiterlike simbole en rituele nie, maar met 'n kommunikasiegebeure wat ontspring in die hart van die Iiefdevolle Vadergod. In verbondenheid aan Jesus, sy Seun, die Hoof van die gemeenteliggaam, is die gemeentelede betrek by 'n groot kommunikasieproses waarvan die inhoud as evangelie (goeie nuus) getipeer word. Om dus te praat van effektiewe kommunikasie sal daar meer geluister en gesoek moet word na die visie van God, en meer verwag moet word dat die kreatiewe Skeppergees sy gemeente sal begenadig met gawes wat in die nuwe kommunikasie-era gebruik kan word om die evangeliese dialoog tussen God en kleuter (onder andere), asook gemeente en kleuter te bevorder. Indien die gemeente nie verstaan dat elke lid daar is ter wille van die ander nie, kan die gemeente in generasiegroepe of ander groepe opbreek sonder dat hulle verstaan dat die gemeente baat by intergeneratiewe byeenkomste waarbinne elke groep 'n bydrae lewer tot die geloofsvorming van die ander. Wanneer daar egter op pluriforme wyse (baie style, vorme, smake) in die aanbidding en diensgerigtheid saam harmonie, versoening en aanvulling gesoek word mag die kleuter se plek nie leeg wees nie. Wanneer die kleuter in hierdie aanbidding deel kry, vind hy ook sy eie sin. Die gemeente is by uitstek die ruimte waarbinne hierdie verheerliking in die tydelike bedeling realiseer. In soverre hierdie navorsing 'n bydrae kon lewer om die gemeenteruimte te help vul met die sinvolle inskakeling van die gemeentekleuters wat God saam verheerlik, in soverre was die navorsing die beoefening van geslaagde praktiese teologie.

On t.p.: Master of Arts (Welfare Programme Management) / Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study of case management of sexually abused children by social workers was conducted in the Moses Kotane District Municipality, because of the following reasons: firstly, there is an escalation of reported cases that are referred from various service organizations to the Department of Social Services; secondly the statutory policies alone cannot be the absolute protection for children against sexual abuse; thirdly, as communities seem to ignore their roles in protecting children against this problem. The social workers end up carrying the ultimate responsibility to protect children. An exploratory study was therefore undertaken to investigate how social workers in the Moses Kotane District Municipality intervene in these cases. It is crucial for professionals to have the necessary knowledge, skills and correct attitude when they intervene in child sexual abuse cases. The study explored the various dynamics that motivate this problem as well as the circumstances that can expose children to the risk of child sexual abuse. Motivation to abuse children in the Moses Kotane District Municipality emanated from the family circumstances, characteristics of the abusive father(s) as well as a lack of community child care resources The social workers need to have insight in various risk factors of this problem. These may include the circumstances surrounding the child, community factors, societal factors, family factors and the attributes of professionals dealing with child sexual abuse cases. The knowledge of the dynamics and risk factors assists social workers to assess whether the child has been abused and to do risk assessment as well as need assessment of the victims and their families. Such information can assist the social workers to make a safety plan of action regarding the child victims. It is therefore vital that the social workers identify the nature of case management style through which they render services to sexually abused children. Direct service delivery, which is preferred by most social workers in the agency, and indirect service delivery are the two types of case management styles that social workers can employ, depending on whether they work in a generic social work setting or private child welfare agency. Although social workers may have the expertise and skill to intervene effectively in child sexual abuse cases, their interventions may be affected by various challenges and result in ineffective service delivery to the victims and perpetrators of child sexual abuse. These challenges may include working conditions that are adverse, community trials of cases of child sexual abuse and unresponsive agency management. Other challenges may include resistance from clients, lack of supervision, lack of training in child sexual abuse work as well as the demanding nature of child sexual abuse work. Throughout the process of case management the social workers need to liaise and cooperate with the multi-professional team comprising of the police (CPU), medical personnel, the prosecutor(s), a psychologist as well as the family members. The team may vary from one agency to the other, however, the social worker, police and medical personnel need to be available at all the team meetings. None of these professionals is supposed to assess victims alone, because the assessment should be focused on the social, medical, psychological, legal, physical and material needs of sexually abused children. It is imperative that social workers are aware of how their attitudes, beliefs, emotions, perceptions and feelings affect the effectiveness of service delivery to these children. The professionals therefore need to be skilled to react responsively and professionally to the victims. Social skills are important for creating worthy client - worker relationships and to enhance accountability in role relationships between the clients and the professionals. By applying interactional skills, the social workers can create a child-friendly atmosphere during intervention, as the social worker can be able to listen empathetically and deal with feelings that surface during the interviews. By applying cognitive skills, the professionals can be in a position to "read" subtle emotions and feelings of the clients and assess the level of their cognitive functioning. The application of theory in practice is vital during intervention as decisions; judgement and interventions should be professional and not haphazard. The social worker thus needs to have knowledge of the perspectives, theories and models of social work. This study has provided such a framework to guide social workers in managing cases of child sexual abuse. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie oor hoe maatskaplike werkers gevallebestuur van seksueel gemolesteerde kinders doen, is in die Moses Kotane Munisipale Distrik onderneem om die volgende redes. Eerstens is daar 'n toename in die gerapporteerde gevalle van seksuele molestering wat deur verskeie diensorganisasies verwys word na die maatskaplike werkers in diens van Departement van Welsyn. Tweedens bied die statutêre beleid op sigself nie aan kinders algehele beskerming teen seksuele molestering nie. Derdens blyk dit dat van maatskaplike werkers verwag word om algehele verantwoordelikheid vir die beskerming van kinders te aanvaar omdat dit skyn asof gemeenskappe hulle rol om kinders teen seksuele molestering te beskerm, ignoreer. Derhalwe is 'n verkennende studie onderneem om vas te stel hoe maatskaplike werkers in die Moses Kotane Munisipale Distrik dienste lewer aan hierdie kinders. Dit is essensieel dat professionele persone oor die nodige kennis, vaardighede en regte houding sal beskik wanneer gevalle van seksuele molestering van kinders hanteer word. Met die studie is die faktore wat aanleiding gee tot seksuele molestering, sowel as die omstandighede wat kinders blootstel aan die risiko van seksuele molestering, ondersoek. Daar is vasgestel dat die motivering vir seksuele molestering van kinders in die Moses Kotane Munisipale Distrik gespruit het uit hulle gesinsomstandighede, kenmerke van die molesterende vader(s), sowel die gebrek aan bronne vir kinderbeskerming in die gemeenskap. Maatskaplike werkers behoort insig te hê in die faktore wat kinders 'n risiko van seksuele molestering kan maak. Hierdie faktore kan verband hou met die omstandighede van die kind, gemeenskapsfaktore, samelewingsfaktore, gesinsfaktore en die kenmerke van die professionele persone wat die gevalle van kinders wat seksueel molesteer is, hanteer. Kennis van die dinamika van seksuele molestering en die risiko faktore van seksuele molestering van kinders, sal maatskaplike werkers in staat stelom te assesseer of kinders gemolesteer is en om risiko-assesserings, sowel as behoeftebepalings van die slagoffers en hulle gesinne te doen. Sodanige inligting sal die maatskaplike werker help om 'n veiligheidsplan van aksie vir kinderslagoffers op te stel. Dit is derhalwe noodsaaklik dat maatskaplike werkers die aard van hulle gevallebestuur styl deur middel waarvan dienste aan seksueel gemolesteerde kinders gelewer word, sal kan identifiseer. Direkte dienslewering, wat deur die meeste maatskaplike werkers in die ondersoek groep verkies is en indirekte dienslewering is die twee soorte gevalle bestuurstyle wat maatskaplike werkers kan gebruik. Die keuse tussen die twee sal afhang van of maatskaplike werkers in 'n generiese of gespesialiseerde opset praktiseer. Alhoewel maatskaplike werkers oor die kundigheid en vaardigheid mag beskik om gevalle van seksuele molestering effektief te hanteer, mag hulle intervensies beïnvloed word deur verskeie struikelblokke wat kan veroorsaak dat oneffektiewe diens aan die slagoffers en oortreders van seksuele molestering van kinders gelewer kan word. Struikelblokke wat deur die respondente ervaar IS, is byvoorbeeld onproduktiewe werksomstandighede, gemeenskapsverhore van oortreders van seksuele molestering van kinders en onresponsiewe besture van organisasies. Ander struikelblokke kan die weerstand van kliënte, gebrek aan supervisie, gebrek aan opleiding in die hantering van seksuele molestering van kinders, sowel as die veeleisende aard van die hantering van kinders wat seksuele gemolesteer is, insluit. Tydens die proses van gevallebestuur behoort die maatskaplike werker deurlopend te skakel en saam te werk met 'n multi-professionele span, bestaande uit die polisie (KBE), mediese personeel, die staatsaanklaer, 'n sielkundige, sowel as die gesinslede van die gemolesteerde kind. Alhoewel die span van organisasie tot organisasie kan verskil, behoort die maatskaplike werker, polisie en die mediese personeel beskikbaar te wees vir alle spanvergaderings. Nie een van hierdie professionele persone is veronderstel om slagoffers alleen te assesseer nie, want die assessering behoort toe fokus op die sosiale, mediese, sielkundige, regs, fisiese en materiële behoeftes van seksueel gemolesteerde kinders. Dit is verder noodsaaklik dat maatskaplike werkers bewus sal wees van hoe hulle houdings, oortuigings, emosies, persepsies en gevoelens die effektiwiteit van hulle dienslewering aan hierdie kinders kan beïnvloed. Professionele persone behoort derhalwe oor die vaardigheid te beskik om met die nodige empatie en professionaliteit te reageer teenoor slagoffers. Met behulp van toepaslike professionele vaardighede kan die maatskaplike werker tydens intervensie 'n kindervriendelike omgewing tydens skep Dit sal die maatskaplike werker in staat stelom empaties te luister en gevoelens wat tydens onderhoude na vore kom te hanteer. Die toepassing van kognitiewe vaardighede sal die professionele persoon ontvanklik maak vir subtiele emosies en gevoelens van die kliënt en instaat stelom die vlak van hulle kognitiewe funksionering te assesseer. Die toepassing van teorie in die praktyk tydens intervensie is noodsaaklike omdat besluite en beoordelings tydens intervensie professioneel moet wees. Die maatskaplike werker benodig dus kennis van relevante perspektiewe, teorieë en modelle van maatskaplike werk wat vir die doel benut kan word. Die studie bied sodanige raamwerk aan wat as riglyne vir maatskaplike werkers kan dien en gebruik kan word om gevalle van seksuele molestering van kinders te bestuur.

The phenomenon of interracial couples who are also parents is on the increase in South Africa, since one in every four marriages is interracial. An empirical study was undertaken to conduct applied, exploratory, descriptive, evidence-based research to describe the perspectives of interracial parents as related to Gestalt Theory, parenting challenges and strategies towards a sense of self and cultural identity of their children. A qualitative approach utilizing an open ended questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with six interracial parent couples was transcribed and analysed. The study concluded that interracial parent couples’, in respect of dealing with societal-non-acceptance of themselves and their “mixed” children, utilize several strategies including avoidance and focusing on the positive; that certain aspects play a vital role in the formation of their children’s sense of self and cultural identity such as religion or faith and both parental identities.The implication of this research is that despite the challenges there are no marked effects on their children’s identity and that interracial parenting strategies must be sound. / Social Work / M.A. Diac. (Play Therapy)