Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South-Africa is known for diversity because of the existence of so many different cultural groups. According to the South African Statistic Services is there an increase in immigration from different African countries, India and China. South Africa therefore need to accommodate the different cultural groups. Except for the fact that there is so many cultural groups, there is also the possibility that more relationships and even marriages will take place between these different cultural groups. The social work profession already started to adapt to these differences because the teaching at universities and colleges focus on multi-cultural intervention. Before 1994 little attention was given to training of social work intervention with families of different cultural backgrounds. To be able to make social work intervention count, knowledge about the different cultures where social workers are involved with, is important. The aim of the study was to establish guidelines for social workers who render services to families of different cultural background, to insure that their intervention will be done more effectively. Existing literature on intervention with families of different cultural background was studied and presented in a theoretical framework. Social work perspectives, theories and models which can be used in social work intervension were discussed. Specific social work perspectives, models and theories which can be used with intervension of families with different cultural backgrounds were also discussed. The definitions of culture and the family were explained and a study was done on social work intervention with families of different cultural backgrounds. Exploratory research was done with the aid of a questionnaire at three welfare organisations. Social workers knowledge and skills on counselling with families of different cultural backgrounds was determined amongst practising social workers. Information obtained from the questionnaires are presented in nine categories, namely : identifying particulars, the client system, problems with families from different cultural backgrounds, training and knowledge of the social worker in cultural diversity,further training, perspectives and models for intervention, intervention with families of different cultural background, the attitude of the social worker and the welfare organization's involvement in training. Conclusions and recommendations are made regarding social workers' knowledge and skills of intervention with families of different cultural backgrounds that are important for effective intervention. Recommendations are made regarding further training and research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika is bekend vir diversiteit, as gevolg van die teenwoordigheid van verskillende kultuurgroepe. Volgens die SA Statistieke Diens is daar 'n toename in immigrante van verskeie Afrika lande, Indië en China. Suid-Afrika word dus genoodsaak om voorsiening te maak vir al die verskillende kultuurgroepe. Behalwe vir die feit dat daar verskillende kultuurgroepe bestaan, is daar ook die moontlikheid dat meer verhoudinge en huwelike sal plaasvind tussen verskillende kultuurgroepe. Die maatskaplike werk professie het reeds begin met aanpassings in die verband deurdat opleiding by universiteite en kolleges fokus op multikulturele intervensie. Voor 1994 is daar minder aandag gegee aan opleiding in maatskaplike werk intervensie aan gesinne van verskillende kulturele agtergrond. Ten einde doeltreffende maatskaplike werk intervensie te lewer, is kennis in verband met die verskillende kulture waarby maatskaplike werkers betrokke is, belangrik. Die doel van die studie was om riglyne daar te stel vir die maatskaplike werker wat dienste lewer aan gesinne van verskillende kulturele agtergrond, sodat intervensie meer effektief sal wees. Bestaande literatuur ten opsigte van intervensie met gesinne van verskillende agtergrond is bestudeer en aangebied in 'n teoretiese raamwerk. Eerstens is gefokus op algemene maatskaplike werk benaderings, teorieë en modelle wat in maatskaplike intervensie benut kan word. Daar is ook meer spesifiek gefokus op maatskaplike werk-benaderings, modelle en teorieë wat benut kan word met gesinne van verskillende kulturele agtergronde. Die definisies van kultuur en die gesin is ook bespreek en laastens is gefokus op maatskaplike werk intervensie aan gesinne van verskillende etniese agtergronde. Met behulp van 'n vraelys is 'n verkennende studie by drie welsynsorganisasies gedoen. Hierdeur is maatskaplike werkers in die praktyk se kennis en vaardighede oor intervensie aan gesinne met verskillende etniese agtergronde bepaal. Die gegewens verkry uit die ondersoek word in nege dele aangebied, naamlik : identifiserende besonderhede, die gevallelading, probleme met gesinne van diverse kultuur, onderrig en kennis van die maatskaplike werker in kulturele diversiteit, verdere opleiding, benaderings en modelle vir intervensie, intervensie met gesinne van verskillende kulturele agtergronde, die gesindheid van die maatskaplike werker en die welsynsorganisasie se betrokkenheid by opleiding. Gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings is gemaak ten opsigte van maatskaplike werkers se kennis en vaardighede met betrekking tot verskillende kulture en intervensie aan gesinne van verskillende kulturele agtergronde wat noodsaaklik IS vir effektiewe intervensie. Aanbevelings is gemaak ten opsigte van verdere opleiding en navorsing.

Text in Afrikaans / Globally divorce is an increasing phenomenon. If not handled correctly it may be significantly destructive for the people involved. The new Children’s Act, Act 38 of 2005 regards the best interests of the child paramount in all matters concerning the care, protection and well-being of a child. It underpins the importance of the full, or specific parental responsibilities of parents, the importance of a conciliatory and non-confrontational approach to the settlement of child-centred disputes. It also mandates that the child has the right to participate in an appropriate way in any matter concerning that child and that his views must be given due consideration. Further Act 38 of 2005, provides for parenting plans to be agreed upon determining the exercise of their respective responsibilities and rights. The goal of this research was to explore, develop and implement a process of family mediation with reference to Act 38 of 2005. Five families affected by divorce and their children were selected as case studies for qualitative research. Applied research was done within the context of intervention research and the first four phases of Rothman and Thomas’ Intervention Research model was used. Problems caused by divorce were identified and the goal was to address the best interests of the child by improving the co-parenting relationship, parent-child relationships and the quality of parenting. Information gathering and synthesis took place by using existing information sources, studying natural examples and identifying functional elements of successful models.An observational system was designed. It included the natural observing of the five case studies, specific procedural elements and intervention. The design criteria were applied to the preliminary intervention concept. / Social Work / D.Diac. (Spelterapie-Rigting)

How African individuals perceive the family life cycle, is the topic of this research. This qualitative study was facilitated with two individuals. Constructivism was used to explore how individuals create their reality. The Person-Centred Approach was studied to understand the importance of the Self- concept in the individual, and the role played by perceptions created in an ever-changing environment. Systems theory helped understand the interaction of family members as a system (family), especially the creation of stability after a state of disequilibrium – in this case, transitions between stages of the life cycle. Only with one respondent were some differences identified compared to the Western view of the life cycle. It was thus concluded that the family life cycle can be used as a guideline during therapy, regarding difficult transitions people (including African people) have to make, for therapists working from both the Person-Centred Approach and the systems perspective. / Social Work / (M.A. (Social Work (Mental Health))

Text in Afrikaans / Globally divorce is an increasing phenomenon. If not handled correctly it may be significantly destructive for the people involved. The new Children’s Act, Act 38 of 2005 regards the best interests of the child paramount in all matters concerning the care, protection and well-being of a child. It underpins the importance of the full, or specific parental responsibilities of parents, the importance of a conciliatory and non-confrontational approach to the settlement of child-centred disputes. It also mandates that the child has the right to participate in an appropriate way in any matter concerning that child and that his views must be given due consideration. Further Act 38 of 2005, provides for parenting plans to be agreed upon determining the exercise of their respective responsibilities and rights. The goal of this research was to explore, develop and implement a process of family mediation with reference to Act 38 of 2005. Five families affected by divorce and their children were selected as case studies for qualitative research. Applied research was done within the context of intervention research and the first four phases of Rothman and Thomas’ Intervention Research model was used. Problems caused by divorce were identified and the goal was to address the best interests of the child by improving the co-parenting relationship, parent-child relationships and the quality of parenting. Information gathering and synthesis took place by using existing information sources, studying natural examples and identifying functional elements of successful models.An observational system was designed. It included the natural observing of the five case studies, specific procedural elements and intervention. The design criteria were applied to the preliminary intervention concept. / Social Work / D.Diac. (Spelterapie-Rigting)

How African individuals perceive the family life cycle, is the topic of this research. This qualitative study was facilitated with two individuals. Constructivism was used to explore how individuals create their reality. The Person-Centred Approach was studied to understand the importance of the Self- concept in the individual, and the role played by perceptions created in an ever-changing environment. Systems theory helped understand the interaction of family members as a system (family), especially the creation of stability after a state of disequilibrium – in this case, transitions between stages of the life cycle. Only with one respondent were some differences identified compared to the Western view of the life cycle. It was thus concluded that the family life cycle can be used as a guideline during therapy, regarding difficult transitions people (including African people) have to make, for therapists working from both the Person-Centred Approach and the systems perspective. / Social Work / (M.A. (Social Work (Mental Health))

Children are being removed unnecessarily from their families and placed into substitute care because service programmes lack resources to keep families intact. There are overseas programmes, which provide home services to families, with children at risk of out of home placement. Although there has been an IFPS project there is no established intensive short-term programme in South Africa that deals with families at the brink of dissolution.The objective of the research is to investigate whether an Intensive Family Preservation Programme is feasible in South Africa. The researcher received training in the United States and met with leaders in the field, to discuss the development and implementation of the programme in South Africa. Surveys obtained the attitudes and opinions of the local social workers and commissioners of Child Welfare in Durban towards the programme. The results from opinion surveys indicate that an Intensive Family Preservation Programme is feasible in South Africa. / Social Science / M.A.(Social Work)

Children are being removed unnecessarily from their families and placed into substitute care because service programmes lack resources to keep families intact. There are overseas programmes, which provide home services to families, with children at risk of out of home placement. Although there has been an IFPS project there is no established intensive short-term programme in South Africa that deals with families at the brink of dissolution.The objective of the research is to investigate whether an Intensive Family Preservation Programme is feasible in South Africa. The researcher received training in the United States and met with leaders in the field, to discuss the development and implementation of the programme in South Africa. Surveys obtained the attitudes and opinions of the local social workers and commissioners of Child Welfare in Durban towards the programme. The results from opinion surveys indicate that an Intensive Family Preservation Programme is feasible in South Africa. / Social Science / M.A.(Social Work)

Text in Afrikaans / Approximately 50 percent of all marriages end up in divorce according to estimates. Thirty percent of divorcees enter into wedlock again within one year from being divorced, thereby creating a reconstructed family. The child in the late middle childhood years experiences some unique challenges during the reconstruction of the family due to influences such as the parent-child relationship, parenting styles and the start of puberty. The purpose of this qualitative study is to determine the child's psychological experience within the reconstructed family and to provide guidelines to parents (and co-therapists) on how to deal with children during the reconstruction process. The qualitative method of research was applied as it is a more informal research procedure and the boundaries of the study subject are reasonably wide and undefined. The method provides an adaptable strategy regarding problem formulation and data collection, which allow semi-structured interviews, observations and field notes, and enable the researcher to obtain first hand knowledge and understanding of the problem. / Social Work / M. Diac.(Play Therapy)

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie studie het ten doel gehad om die effek van gesinsgeweld op die Suid-Afrikaanse kind te bepaal. Die Opvoedkundig-Sielkundige Relasieteorie is gebruik in die identifisering van die effek van gesinsgeweld op die kind. Die volgende is in die studie bevind: Die geweldsvraelys kan gebruik word om die effek van gesinsgeweld by die kind te identifiseer en ook as hulpmiddel dien vir die terapeut in die verband. Die Opvoedkundig-Sielkundige Relasieteorie kan gebruik word om die effek van gesinsgeweld by die kind te identifiseer. Kinders wat geaffekteer word deur gesinsgeweld toon sterker deursettingsvermoe en wilskrag ten einde 'n sukses te maak van hulle toekoms en om nie in dieselfde omstandighede te beland nie. Seuns en dogters se emosionele ervarings toon weinig verskille. Relasie met ouers in gesinsverband word negatief be"invloed, terwyl relasie buite gesinsverband positief voorkom. Kinders wat geaffekteer word deur gesinsgeweld kan gehelp word, al is dit om die kind te verwyder uit die omgewing asook met terapie, gesinsterapie, ensovoorts. / The study was conducted to determine the effect of family violence on South-African children. The Education-Psychological Relation theory was used to identify these effects. In the literature, the following was concentrated on: The questionnaire can determine the effects of family violence on a child and assist a psychologist in this regard. Education-Psychological Relation theory can determine the effects of family violence on a child. Children affected by family violence show a stronger determination and willpower to succeed in their future and not to stay in similar situations. The emotional experiences of boys and girls show little difference. Relationships with parents are negatively affected, but relationships outside the family circle tend to be positive, Finally, children affected by family violence can be helped, albeit to remove the child from the enviroment and to use psychological therapy, family therapy, ectera. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Text in Afrikaans / The researchers' own interaction with the community caused her to recognize that the safety of pre-schoolers and toddlers in high risk areas are being jeopardised because sexual education is not applied soon enough. The aim of this research study was to determine the needs of role-players in the high risk area in terms of community education regarding the safety of pre-schoolers. A quantitative approach was followed, which focussed on applied research and the exploratory and descriptive objectives of the research in order to facilitate a better understanding of the research phenomenon and to understand the specifics of the situation. The Randomised Cross-sectional Survey design was implemented. The analysed findings were presented graphically and interpreted in order to reach conclusions and present the recommendations of the study. The general conclusion based upon the empirical findings of the study is that there is a great need for community education regarding the safety of pre-schoolers in the high-risk area, Danville. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)