The purpose of this study is to seek a consensus definition of family ministry, including the aspects of desired outcome, necessary activities, and perceived locus of responsibility. The three-round Delphi study utilized input from 13 expert panelists to describe items of consensus across in each of the above four categories. Results from the study describe four consensus definitional components: strong biblical foundation, clear equipping for biblical parenting and community, and addressing healthy interpersonal relationships. Four categories of desired outcomes included multigenerational faith formation, authentic biblical community, rigorously biblical programming, and the advancement of God’s kingdom. Categories of essential practices were the equipping of households for evangelism and discipleship, missional family life and authentic and accountable leadership. The responsibility for the activities of family ministry lies with particular church leadership in partnership with the home, according to study participants. KEYWORDS: Definitional consensus, desired outcomes, activities of family ministry, responsible parties for family ministry, Delphi methodology.

Thesis (Ph. D. (Administration)) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / The purpose of this study was to assess the poverty and crime levels among the offenders’ families and to compare the perceptions of the offenders and correctional officials regarding incarceration and rehabilitation in the correctional centres with the view of developing an adjusted framework for the Department of Justice and Correctional Services. The study utilised a mixed method approach and was descriptive. The study used survey method to collect quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data were collected using self-administered structured questionnaires and qualitative data used self-administered semi-structured questionnaires and open-ended questions. Three groups of respondents participated in this study. The population for the quantitative design were offenders (n=59) and correctional officials (n=17), respectively from Polokwane Medium B Prison. Participants for the qualitative design were the same correctional officials (n=17) and offenders’ families (n=10). Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS version 22 package while qualitative data was coded and analysed manually. The majority of offenders (66%) indicated that their families were struggling while they were incarcerated and corroborated by 59% of the correctional officials, whereas 80% of the offenders’ families were evidenced during the interview that they were struggling. The findings revealed that incarceration and rehabilitation lead to recidivism and the ensnarement of offenders’ families to poverty and crime. The study revealed that overcrowding, limited staff and lack of staff with expertise were the contributing factors to the ineffectiveness of rehabilitation programmes in the correctional centre. The study recommends the coordinated efforts of the stakeholders (government departments and NGOs) for improving the implementation of the remunerated work for the offenders. The researcher is optimistic that if the proposed adjusted incarceration and rehabilitation framework is implemented, the poverty among the offenders’ families might be alleviated. KEY CONCEPTS: incarceration; rehabilitation; recidivism; offenders’ families; prisoners; correctional officials; mixed research methodology.

No description available.

This study is an investigation of long-term foster care, which focuses on the reflections of 40 adults, aged 18-30, who grew up in foster families. The theoretical approach taken is developmental and the study draws on theories of attachment and resilience. The research method was qualitative. In-depth interviews were conducted, transcribed and analysed in order to generate a picture of the pathways taken through childhood and into adult life. The primary focus of the interviews was on family relationships and the development of the self, but relationships with peers, school experiences and practice relevant issues, such as what it meant to be `in care', the experience of stigma and the role of social workers, were also discussed. The analysis used the dimensions of placement continuity, the quality of family relationships and the nature of family membership to identify seven different pathways. The data suggests that although the development of secure emotional relationships is an important part of successful placement experiences, the development of a sense of family membership is also highly significant, particularly in adult life. In a psychosocial model of long-term foster care, a `secure base' can therefore be understood in attachment terms as an emotional resource, but can also be understood in a more social context, as providing a family identity and a place in society. The study concludes that foster families where there are no biological or legal ties can still be a form of permanent family placement. This has important implications for social work practice, both in the way in which placements are planned and in the importance of promoting continuity into adult life of relationships which officially end when a child leaves care. It requires a change in attitudes, so that long-term foster families are no longer treated as placements for childhood only, but are recognised as offering a home and a family for life

published_or_final_version / Sociology / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Chinese Historical Studies / Master / Master of Arts

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.