Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Very little attention has been paid in South Africa to the situations where grandmothers have become surrogate parents to their grandchildren and other vulnerable children who have been left destitute due to the HIV/Aids epidemic. These women, who are in great need of support are not directly factored into Aids-related policy and care strategies, even though they play a vital role in assuming the roles of surrogate parents to their grandchildren. Clearly elderly women are valuable resources and are both crucial and valuable for the role they play in the care of both Aids sufferers and Aids orphans. Grandmothers who assume such care-giving roles are not receiving specific and targeted support from government structures. Instead they only benefit peripherally from the legislation within the jurisdiction of Department of Social Development and the programs that are established by them. This study determined where government social and welfare polices can improve the quality of life of black female pensioners who are taking care of their orphaned grandchildren and other vulnerable children. Policy makers need to recognise that grandmothers are increasingly obliged to assume care-giving responsibilities for dying adult children and later for orphans, when their own physical and cognitive abilities may be declining. Instead of using their state pensions to enjoy their old age and spend their money on looking after their health, proper housing etc., black female pensioners are forced to assume additional responsibilities in looking after orphaned grandchildren and other vulnerable children who require food, clothing, proper housing, education etc. Such expenses imply that their pensions are not put to their intended uses. Due to their advanced age they find it increasingly difficult to earn income to support young children. Until now the South African government has done little to support older women who find themselves in such precarious circumstances and to recognise their invaluable contributions. Various recommendations are made in the report to improve this situation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Baie min aandag is tot dusver nog in Suid-Afrika geskenk aan die omstandighede waar grootmoeders hulself bevind in die posisie van surrogaat ouer vir hul kleinkinders en ander kwesbare kinders wat haweloos gelaat is as gevolg van die HIVNigs epidemie. Hierdie vroue wat ondersteuning dringend nodig het, is nie regstreeks in berekening gebring by die verskeie Vigs beleide en ander versorginstrategiee en maatreels nie, al speel hulle 'n beslissende rol as surrogaat ouers vir hulle kleinkinders. Dit is duidelik dat bejaarde vroue 'n waardevolle hulpbron is en 'n onskatbare en onmisbare rol speel by die versorging van sowel Vigs Iyers as kinders wat weens Vigs ouerloos is. Grootmoeders wat hierdie versorgingsrolle aanvaar, ontvang geen spesifieke en doelgerigte ondersteuning van regeringstrukture nie. Instede daarvan trek hulle net voordeel uit wetgewing binne die jurisdiksie van Department van Openbare Welsyn en die programme wat daaruit mag voortvloei. Hierdie studie het vas gestel hoe die bestaande open bare en welsynsbeleide aangepas kan word om die lewenskwalitiet van swart vroulike pensioenarise wat vir hul ouerlose kleinkinders en ander kwesbare kinders sorg, te verbeter. Beleidmakers moet besef dat grootmoeders toenemend verplig word om om te sien na die versorging van hul eie sterwende volwasse kinders en mettertyd die versoging van dieselfde gestorwenes se kinders wat wees agtergelaat word. Hierdie toedrag van sake ontvou in 'n stadium wanneer hierdie vroue se eie fisiese krag en kognitiewe vaardighede waarskynlik reeds aan die afneem is. Instede daarvan dat hierdie vroue die staatspensioen gebruik om hul oudag te geniet en om te sien na hulle eie gesondheid, behoorlike behuising edm., is swart vroulike pensioenarisse verplig om hierdie beperkte fondse aan te wend vir die versorging, voeding, behuising en onderrig van hul ouerlose kleinkinders en ander kwesbare kinders. Sulke onkostes impliseer dat hul pensioen nie aangewend word vir die doel waarvoor dit ingestel is nie. Weens hul hoe ouderdom is dit vir hierdie vroue al hoe moeiliker om 'n inkomste te genereer om vir jong kinders te sorgo Tot nog toe het die Suid-Afrikaanse regering weinig gedoen om ouer vroue wat hulself in hierdie benarde omstandighede bevind, te ondersteun of om hul onskatbare bydrae te erken. Verskeie voorstelle word in hierdie verslag gemaak om die situasie te verbeter.

Thesis (M Social Work (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / An exploratory study with a descriptive design has been used in order to get more information and insight about the tendency of grandmothers as kinship caregiver (family foster parent) for their grandchildren. The researcher became aware of the increase in the use of the grandmother as a kinship caregiver, as well as the shortage of literature in South Africa. The abovementioned aspects lead to the motivation for the study. The experience of the grandmother in Kayamandi as kinship caregiver was studied. The aim of the study is to provide guidelines to social workers for service rendering to grandmothers as kinship caregivers. The literature study gave a historical overview of foster care and kinship care in both the United States of America (USA) and South Africa. Foster care was described as a process: from preventative services to permanency planning. Specific attention was given to the grandmother as kinship caregiver. As the literature in the USA focused on the Afro-American, it was decided to do the study in Kayamandi, where the grandmother as kinship caregiver is mostly isiXhosa-speaking. The sample consists out of 15 grandparents who are either Afrikaans or English speaking. The mixed methodology design model was used by mixing qualitative as well as quantitative research: structured interviews based on structured questionnaires. The study enabled the researcher to draw up a profile of the grandmother as kinship caregiver as well as the family foster child in Kayamandi. The results of the literature confirmed the results of the study; the experience of the grandmother as kinship caregiver is marked with mixed feelings, but is overall a positive experience. The recommendations focused on three areas; the grandmother, the grandchild and the experience of the grandmother as kinship caregiver. The central theme for both grandmother and grandchild was the need for support. It is recommended that future research focus on the development of support programs aimed specifically at grandparents as kinship caregivers.

Contemporary social science research has often focused on nuclear family relationships, and has largely neglected kinship and family outside the nuclear household. In this doctoral thesis I explore demographic issues from a multigenerational perspective, using Swedish register data and mathematical modeling. In different chapters I examine intergenerational transmission of fertility—the relationship between the number of siblings and other kin, and the fertility of an individual. The thesis demonstrates the possibilities for empirical research on family and kinship based on Swedish register data. Unique linkage opportunities across three and four generations are applied to previously unexplored research questions. The studies in the thesis demonstrate the importance of kin outside the household, such as grandparents, aunts/uncles, and cousins, for fertility and family dynamics. / Samhällsvetenskaplig forskning har i hög grad varit fokuserad på kärnfamiljer, och i lägre grad undersökt släktskap utanför hushållet. Den här avhandlingen undersöker demografiska frågor utifrån ett flergenerationsperspektiv med hjälp av svenska registerdata och matematisk modellering. I de olika studierna undersöker jag den sociala överföringen av barnafödande mellan fler generationer—sambanden mellan antalet syskon och andra familjemedlemmar, och en persons barnafödande. Avhandlingen demonstrerar hur svenska registerdata möjliggör empirisk forskning om familj och släktskap. De unika kopplingsmöjligheterna över tre till fyra generationer appliceras på tidigare outforskade forskningsfrågor. Avhandlingen visar vikten av släktskap utanför kärnfamiljen, så som far/mor-föräldrar samt kusiner, för familjedemografiska processer.

This diploma work deals with parents and grandparents in education of preschool age. First theoretical part of the work examines sociological data about family and education of children. The work further deals details of the position and role of the grandparents when these findings are then compare in the context of a child where the main importance is focused to presence grandparents in education. The second part of the work is focused to research. It examines how the parents and grandparents work together in education and how feels this help young parent. This part of the work finds what education methods repeat of our children and how has changed the education today against of past. It deals if grandparents affect their children and if these children perceive they are influence by parents.

La question de la transmission intergénérationnelle du « bien manger » se trouve aujourd’hui au cœur des préoccupations des pouvoirs publics, qui souhaitent promouvoir auprès des jeunes générations une conception de la « bonne » alimentation dépassant le cadre de l’équilibre alimentaire ; or, paradoxalement, la littérature sur le rôle des acteurs familiaux dans le développement des connaissances de l’enfant liées à cette conception élargie de la « bonne » alimentation est assez succincte. A l’appui d’études documentaire, qualitative et quantitative menées auprès de parents et de grands-parents, cette recherche analyse le rôle des grands-parents, et parents, dans l’apprentissage du « bien manger » chez l’enfant. Les contributions de ce travail se situent à plusieurs niveaux (1) définition et conceptualisation du construit du « bien manger » (2) identification du rôle spécifique des grands-parents dans la transmission du « bien manger » à l’enfant (3) comparaison entre les parents et les grands-parents des représentations sociales du « repas où les enfants ont bien mangé » et des pratiques de transmission (4) analyse des variables explicatives des pratiques de transmission intergénérationnelle du « bien manger » (représentations du « bien manger », générativité, centralité du rôle parental et grand-parental, reconnexion au passé personnel). / Recently, the question of how to develop the intergenerational transmission of “eating well“ practices, conceived more broadly than “eating healthy”, has received greater attention from public policy makers. However, quite surprisingly, the academic literature in this area is rather scarce. Adopting different methodological approaches – document content analysis, qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis - , this research sheds light on how the intergenerational transmission contributes to children’s learning of “eating well” within families, and on the particular role of grandparents, in comparison with parents, in this process. Theoretical contributions are provided at different levels (1) we define and conceptualize the “eating well” construct (2) we identify the specific role of grandparents in the intergenerational transfer of “eating well” (3) we compare the structure of social representations of “a meal where children have eaten well”, as well as transmission practices, between grandparents and parents; (4) we measure the influence of relevant variables (representations, generativity, parental and grandparental role centrality and reinvolvement with personal past) on intergenerational transmission of practices related to “eating well”.

Nationally there has been an increase in the number of children requiring care and protection who have been placed in foster care in South Africa. This increase has also been evident at the Child and Family Welfare Society of Pietermaritzburg. Many of the children needing care and protection are placed in foster care with their grandparents. The aim of this study was therefore to explore the experiences and support networks of grandparents and their adolescent foster grandchildren. The study was guided by the ecological framework. This was a qualitative study with the purpose being descriptive. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 adolescent foster children and one focus group discussion was conducted with 8 grandmothers. Although the plan was to include both grandparents in the study, it became evident at the sampling stage that many of the children were placed with their grandmothers, even if the grandfather was present. A significant finding of the study was that it was mainly grandmothers, rather than both grandparents, who had the responsibility for caring and nurturing the children in their care. Although five of the adolescents lived with both their grandmothers and their grandfathers; grandfathers were not seen as playing a significant role in their lives. Grandmothers were the decision-makers, responsible for discipline and a source of support for the adolescents. Grandmothers experienced financial and housing difficulties. Adolescents expressed feelings of loneliness and loss in relation to their parents. Social workers have focused mainly on assisting grandmothers to access the foster care grant and grandmothers and adolescents have not received grief and bereavement counseling and therapeutic services. Recommendations include the need for social workers to respond to the therapeutic needs of adolescents and the employment of social service professionals. Recommendations at a policy level include the improvement of the partnership between the Department of Social Development and NGOs. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 46-05, page: 2670. Adviser: Palmer Beasley. Includes bibliographical references.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:44:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 5126.pdf: 1687281 bytes, checksum: 393596b569cb3b9980b77e9f5435b36e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-28 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / Literature has pointed to the importance of intergenerational relationships in families of children with and without disabilities. Once the familiar universe of a child goes beyond the interaction that he establishes with his mother, involving fathers, siblings, grandparents and other individuals, the focus of intergenerationality has contributed to the understanding of developmental processes and family adaptation in families of children with and without developmental abnormalities. Furthermore, studies indicate the need for greater understanding about the family s factors associated with stress reported by the elderly. The aim of this study was to identify the experiences of families of children with intellectual disabilities and typically developing children, about daily life, support practices and intergenerationality from the perspective of three generations - grandmothers, mothers and siblings. As the specific objectives we have: (1) assess the differences and similarities in patterns of intergenerational relationships and daily life of the two family groups represented, (2) identify the presence of stress in participant grandmothers. The study included 36 family members of 12 families of children with intellectual disabilities and typically developing children who were linked to public and / or philanthropic schools located in countryside of Sao Paulo - Brazil, who had older siblings and grandparents living in the same city. For data collection were used: 1) Identification questionnaire of the child and family, 2) Economic Classification Criterion Brazil (CCEB), 3) Semi-structured roadmap interviews for mothers, grandmothers and siblings of the children; 4) Inventory stress symptoms for adults (ISSL). The data obtained through the identification questionnaire, the CCEB and the ISSL were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The interviews were analyzed qualitatively using the technique of the Collective Subject Discourse. The main findings indicate that grandmothers of both family groups studied represent an important source of support for the family. Moreover, the intergenerational relationship between grandmothers and their older grandchildren presented as positive in the lives of all involved, with no significant differences between groups. However, in the case of families of children with disabilities, it was observed that the interaction between grandmothers and older grandchildren is increased with specific features of this reality, since the grandmothers seem to interfere more in the relationship between siblings than the grandmothers of typically developing children do. Furthermore, older siblings, in these families were identified as important support to their mothers and siblings with disabilities. About the stress experienced by the third generation, the results from the application of ISSL revealed that the majority of grandparents of children with disabilities are stressed, while only one grandmother of typically developing children showed symptoms of stress. It is argued about the contribution of intergenerational relationships in the development of all family members and is pointed up, in the case of grandmothers of children with disabilities, about the importance of considering them in the guidance and clarification about the issue of the child. It is emphasized on the importance of intergenerational studies and the need for education and health activities that promote and strength the intergenerational connections. / A literatura aponta para a importância dos relacionamentos intergeracionais em famílias de crianças com e sem deficiência. Uma vez que o universo familiar de uma criança vai muito além da interação que esta estabelece com sua mãe, envolvendo os pais, irmãos, avós e outros indivíduos, o enfoque da intergeracionalidade tem contribuído para a compreensão dos processos de desenvolvimento e adaptação familiar em famílias de crianças com e sem alterações no desenvolvimento. Além disso, estudos apontam sobre a necessidade de maior compreensão acerca dos fatores familiares associados ao estresse relatado por idosos. O objetivo do presente estudo foi identificar a experiência de famílias de crianças com deficiência intelectual e de crianças com desenvolvimento típico, acerca do cotidiano, das práticas de apoio e da intergeracionalidade, sob a ótica de três gerações avós, mães e irmãos. Como objetivos específicos, tem-se: (1) verificar diferenças e semelhanças nos padrões de relacionamento intergeracional e no cotidiano dos dois grupos familiares representados; (2) identificar a presença de estresse nas avós participantes. Participaram do estudo 36 familiares de 12 famílias de crianças com deficiência intelectual e desenvolvimento típico, que estavam vinculadas a escolas públicas e/ou filantrópicas localizadas em uma cidade do interior do estado de São Paulo, que tinham irmãos mais velhos e avós residindo na mesma cidade. Para coleta de dados foram utilizados: 1) Questionário de identificação da criança e da família; 2) Critério de Classificação Econômica Brasil (CCEB); 3) Roteiros de entrevistas semiestruturadas para mães, avós e irmãos das crianças; 4) Inventário de sintomas de stress para adultos (ISSL). Os dados obtidos por meio do Questionário de identificação, do CCEB e do ISSL foram analisados por meio de estatística descritiva. As entrevistas foram analisadas qualitativamente por meio da técnica do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo. Os principais resultados apontam que as avós de ambos os grupos representam importante fonte de apoio à família. Além disso, o relacionamento intergeracional entre as avós e seus netos mais velhos apresentou-se como positivo na vida de todos os envolvidos, não havendo diferenças marcantes entre os grupos. Contudo, no caso das famílias de crianças com deficiência, observou-se que a interação entre avós e netos mais velhos é acrescida de características específicas desta realidade, uma vez que as avós parecem interferir mais no relacionamento entre os irmãos do que o fazem as avós de crianças com desenvolvimento típico. Além disso, os irmãos mais velhos, nestas famílias, foram apontados como importante fonte de apoio às mães e aos irmãos com deficiência. Acerca do estresse vivenciado pela terceira geração, os resultados advindos da aplicação do ISSL revelaram que a maior parte das avós de crianças com deficiência encontra-se estressada, enquanto que apenas uma avó das crianças com desenvolvimento típico apresentou sintomas de estresse. Discute-se sobre a contribuição de relacionamentos intergeracionais no desenvolvimento de todos os membros da família e aponta-se, no caso das avós das famílias de crianças com deficiência, sobre a importância de considerá-las ao orientar e esclarecer sobre a problemática da criança. Ressalta-se para a importância de estudos intergeracionais e para a necessidade de ações de saúde e educação que promovam e fortaleçam os vínculos intergeracionais.

The subject of the presented thesis focuses on foster care exercised by children´s relatives. The target is to ascertain possible different roles in kinship foster care and different attitudes to the aforementioned, record the experience of kinship care givers, their viewing and experiencing of childcare. I wanted to know if fostering had brought any positives into their lives and on the other hand if there are any negatives related to such care. The theoretic part of my thesis describes the history of foster care in different periods, explains the terms like family, social role and attachment. Furthermore, particular forms of foster care are explained and foster care exercised by children´s relatives is described in more details. Attention is also paid to the relationship and contact between a child and his/her parents. The Authority for social and legal protection of children (OSPOD in Czech) has an essential role in foster care together with assisting organizations, which are described in the last chapter of the theoretic part. I used qualitative methodology for research purposes and semi-structured interviews for collection of data. The research file contained eight respondents which were selected based on simple purpuseful sampling. The research file consisted of foster parents caring for children of their relatives. I determined reasons why the children had been placed into foster care, how the foster parents experience such care and how they view it themselves. The results of the interview analysis helped me to uncover and understand the basis of kinship foster care. According to similar signs, they were divided into several areas. The first area focused on the reasons why the child had been placed into kinship foster care. The main reasons included various types of addictions, child neglect, failure to provide suitable housing or lack of interest in the child. The second area related to the feelings of foster mothers when accepting the child. Their decision-making process is described here, including their motivation and fears related to fostering. In most cases, foster mothers had enough time for making their decisions on fostering. Half of the foster mothers found it natural; the other half had ambivalent feelings for it. The third area is dedicated to changes in wider personal relationships and relationships in the family, in particular, to the impact of foster care on relations between partners and the potential influence on the relationship of foster parents with their own children. Relations with biologic children of the foster parents had an important role as well. The fourth area includes basic characteristics of childcare. Most foster mothers noticed significant changes in their lives. Foster care had a negative impact on the quality of their lives but it principally became a source of vitality and optimism for them. Foster mothers faced problem situations related to intergenerational differences, behaviour of children and problems at school. They also worried often about the future of their foster children. Some foster mothers accepted the role of a mother that predominated over their other life roles. Others had no problems in separating their roles and shifting from one role to another. Most conflicts in the role appeared when the child was fostered by his/her grandmother. The last area contains conditions that have helped foster mothers to reduce the burden of foster care. Foster mothers appreciated help of their families, which they preferred, and sufficient financial security. They gladly accepted the help of assisting organizations and the services offered by them. Mandatory education and the possibility to share their experience with other foster parents were of great importance too.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / As avós que assumem a criação de netos constituem um fenômeno cada vez mais frequente nas famílias da atualidade. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo investigar as percepções e vivências das avós guardiãs, frente à criação de seus netos em uma comunidade de baixa renda da cidade de Recife/PE. Especificamente pretendeu-se analisar os motivos que acarretam esta situação, bem como as relações estabelecidas entre as partes, além de caracterizar os sentimentos experimentados pelas avós no papel de guardiãs, e suas expectativas para o futuro. Participaram do estudo 10 avós que cuidavam dos netos em tempo integral, todas residentes na comunidade do Coque. Elas estavam na faixa etária entre 48 e 81 anos e possuíam escolaridade baixa e renda inferior a um salário mínimo. Foi utilizado um roteiro de entrevista, analisado de acordo com a técnica da Análise de Conteúdo Temática. Os dados obtidos no presente estudo mostram o seguinte: 1) os principais motivos que levaram as avós a assumir a criação dos netos estiveram relacionados à gravidez na adolescência, separação dos pais, dependência química e violência; 2) o papel de mãe desses netos sobrepõe-se ao de avó e os dados demonstram que ainda prevalece na sociedade a ideia de que uma mulher é quem deve preferencialmente assumir a criação das crianças; 3) apesar de relatarem cansaço, doenças e dificuldades financeiras, as avós nutrem, em sua grande maioria, sentimentos de bem querer, de amor e dedicação especial pelos netos que criam a ponto de não aceitarem que eles as deixem; 4) as maiores dificuldades citadas foram as financeiras, como a escolaridade e estabelecimento de limites, bem como o receio de que os netos envolvam-se em comportamentos de risco; 5) as expectativas para si mesmas é ter sossego e descansar, enquanto para os netos é que estudem, trabalhem e sejam pessoas de bem. Quanto aos relatos direcionados à comunidade em que vivem ficou evidenciado que, apesar de a acharem violenta e um lugar difícil para criar netos, com diversas limitações de infraestrutura e moradia, elas gostam do lugar. / The grandparents who take the creation of grandchildren are an increasingly common phenomenon in today's families. This study aimed to investigate the perceptions and experiences of guardians grandparents, opposite the creation of his grandchildren in a low income community in Recife / PE. A specific objective is to analyze the reasons that cause this situation as well as the relations between the parties, and to characterize the feelings experienced by grandparents in the role of guardian, and their expectations for the future. Study participants were 10 grandparents who cared for their grandchildren full time, all residents of the community Coque. They were aged between 48 and 81 years and had low education and income less than the minimum wage. An interview script, analyzed according to the technique of thematic content analysis was used. The data obtained in this study show the following: 1) the main reasons why the grandparents to take with grandchildren were related to teenage pregnancy, parents' divorce, substance abuse and violence; 2) the role of mother of these grandchildren overlaps the grandmother and the data show that still prevails in society the idea that a woman is who should preferably take the rearing of children; 3) despite reporting fatigue, illness and financial difficulties, grandmothers nourish, mostly, feelings and want to, love and special dedication by grandchildren who create the point of not accepting that they leave them; 4) the main difficulties cited were financial, with education and establishment of limits, and the fear that the grandchildren engage in risky behaviors; 5) expectations for themselves is to have peace and rest while for the grandchildren is to study, work and be good people. As for reports directed to the community in which they live was evident that, despite the violent and think a difficult place to raise grandchildren, with several limitations of infrastructure and housing, they like the place.