Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf [114-119]).

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf [114-119]). Also available in print.

The number of households headed by single mothers living in poverty exceeds that of all other categories of poverty-stricken households, and poverty impacts the children negatively in various ways. When single mothers choose not to continue their education, they lessen their chances of finding higher paying jobs and raising their families out of poverty. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to better understand why some single mothers decided to continue into higher education. The study considered the decisions of 6 single mothers of young children in Montgomery County, Texas, and the obstacles they overcame while completing their education. The women were recruited from a co parenting workshop using snowball sampling. The inclusion criteria included single mothers of children ages 0-10 years old and who obtained a degree or specialized certificate. The conceptual framework was based on Bandura's concept of self-efficacy and Carspecken's critical theory. Interviews were used with the 6 women to collect data that were then transcribed, compared, coded, and thematically analyzed. Emergent themes included overcoming obstacles, receiving help from others, acting as their children's role models, dealing with the impact of the father's absence, and receiving motivation from their own parents. The social significance of this research is that it illuminates the problem of poverty among single female-headed households and increases the understanding of why some single mothers decide to continue into higher education.

When single-parent households are consequences of intentional or unintentional reasons, they are often associated with economic and psychosocial challenges. This study aimed to understand, explore, describe and interpret the economic and psychosocial experiences of single parents in KwaDambuza. This study highlights relevant issues that may provide guidance to different stakeholders in their efforts to deal with challenges of single- parent households. Qualitative research processes were used in this study. The sample consisted of 20 single-parent households (ten male and ten female single-parent households). Data collection took place using in-depth interviews and one focus group. The use of these two techniques served to enhance the reliability of the data. The ecosystem theory was utilised as a fundamental conceptual theory to understand the economic and psychosocial plight of both male and female single-parent households. The findings show that there were four key themes and six sub-themes that emerged from the data analysis and which are discussed in relation to the microsystem, mezzosystem, exosystem and macrosystems impacting single-parent households. Theme one focuses on the structural impact of poverty, unemployment on both male and female single-parent households and discusses two sub-themes: the impact of social grants on the family household income and family expenditure and implications for education of children. Theme two provides insight into the psychosocial challenges experienced, and discusses two sub-themes: intrapersonal and interpersonal challenges of males and females single-parent households. The third theme focuses on parental responsibilities and child care as a sub-theme. The fourth theme focuses on the blatant lack of support systems that negatively impact both the male and female single-parent households and discusses one sub-theme: access to service provision. The study revealed that the main challenge is poverty which was closely connected to unavailability and inaccessibility of service providers, and lack of support structures. / M.A. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2013.

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 104-114).

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 104-114) Also available in print.

The South African population is highly populated by single mothered families. Fatherlessness has emerged as one of the greatest social problems, especially as children who grow up in families with absent-fathers suffer lasting damage. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of fathers’ imprisonment on the functioning of the family and social work interventions to mitigate the effect. The study used mixed method research design. Data was collected through the use of questionnaires and in-depth interviews. This study employed three sampling strategies; namely multi-stage sampling and purposive sampling as well as snow-ball sampling. The sample was made up of 65 members of families whose father is in prison or had been to prision and 15 social work officials. Qalitative data was analyised using themes and parrtens that emerged during interviews with participants, quantitative data was analysed using SPSS computer softerwere. Findings revealed that father’s imprisonment has negative impact that causes dysfunctional families. The negative effect is due to the loss of a father figure and a provider of the family. Inequality and stigmatisation among family members were also found to cause dysfunctional families after the father’s imprisonment. Findings from social work officials revealed social service interventions to mollify the family dysfunctions. However, majority of families are provided services through offender re-integration, others lack unawareness regarding social work interventions for families with fathers in prison. Findings further reveal that resources are limited to enhance the provision of adequate and better psychosocial support for affected families in order to alleviate the undesirable impact of father’s imprisonment. There is therefore a compelling need for implementing policies that will enable dysfunctional families with fathers imprison to access adequate psychosocial support services. The study also recommended that, social welfare system should be strengthened by embarking on enlightenment programmes that create awareness about family based interventions for dysfunction families with fathers in prison.

Depth interviews with 16 urban female heads of households (FHHs) were the basis of this qualitative study which sought to understand the nature of the child care decisions these women made for their school age children. A theoretical sampling model based on six dimensions of contrast (race, financial security, the presence of other caretakers in the household, the number of children in the household, and the age of children) was used in selecting the sample. All of the women were involved in work, education or training to a degree that child care was an issue for them. The collective testimony of the sample reveals that the FHHs chose care for their children that was compatible with their role as provider and with their resources. Resources included knowledge of caregivers and settings, network support, and material resources (income, presence of care in the community, and transportation). Women who had limited resources and restrictive provider roles functioned in an environment of forced choice and were more at risk for making decisions on child care that they were not personally comfortable with. Their affect, values, and children's opinions and needs played an important role within the bounds allowed by the provider role and resources. The FHHs maintained child care arrangements until life events or changes in resources or provider role precipitated the need for another decision. However, unmet values, and unacknowledged affect and child opinion precipitated a change if they were highlighted so clearly by anomalous events that they could not be ignored. Such conditions affected immediate change in child care, but not subsequent decisions. Social policy recommendations that stemmed from these findings conclude the study. / M.S.

Recent legislation passed by the South African Parliament has sharpened attention on the importance of mediation in the process of divorce. Without the understanding and cooperation of the legal profession, and of attorneys in particular, there appears to be small chance that this will be adequately recognised and brought to fruition. The research reported in this dissertation reflects the results of an investigation of Cape Town attorneys working in the field of divorce. Their attitudes to and knowledge of the concept of divorce mediation are reported, and the prospects of collaboration between a social work agency and the legal profession in divorce mediation have been analysed. It is clear that some collaboration is achievable between the social work and legal professions in this area. A methodology has been developed and validated that is generally applicable, and which could also be used for investigation of other professional groups. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Work)

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This programme is aimed at providing parent guidance to single parents. It is based on a reciprocal and egalitarian work relationship, using the parent's own skills, knowledge, unique strengths and previous successes. Solution-focused therapy developed from postmodernism. Therefore the absence of an objective reality functions independently of a reality that is linguistically constructed. The assumptions that underpin Solution-focused therapy are discussed, since they form an essential element in the composition of this programme. Since the guidance programme is implemented in a group context, attention is paid to the therapeutic factors, dynamics and principles of solution-focused group work. Techniques unique to Solution-focused work, such as the miracle question, exceptions questions and grading questions are explained. These techniques are put into practice over six sessions: (1) identifying problematic issues in single parent families, (2) focusing on any slight change, (3) if it works, don't fix it, (4) if it doesn't work, do something else, (5) focus on what is right, (6) celebrate changes and exceptions. Goals are set and procedures work out for each session. The programme is aimed at enhancing the single parent's own capacity for generating solutions and constructing alternative meaning in a move away from a problem orientation towards a solution orientation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie program is op ouerleiding aan enkelouers gerig. Oit berus op 'n wederkerige en eqalitere werksverhouding, gebaseer op die ouer se vaardigheid, eie kennis, unieke vermoens en vorige suksesse. Oplossingsgerigte terapie het ontwikkel vanuit die postmodernisme. Hiervolgens is daar nie 'n objektiewe werklikheid wat onafhanklik funksioneer van die lingu"istiese gekonstrueerde weergawe van die realiteit nie. Die aannames waarop Oplossingsgerigte terapie berus word bespreek, aangesien dit 'n belangrike element in die samestelling van hierdie program vorm. Aangesien die ouerleiding in groepverband geskied, word daar aandag geskenk aan die terapeutiese faktore, dinamiek en beginsels van oplossingsgerigte groepwerk. Tegnieke eie aan oplossingsgerigte werk, soos die wonderwerkvraag, uitsonderingsvrae en graderingsvrae, word verduidelik. Die verpraktisering van bogenoemde geskied in ses sessies wat soos volg uiteengesit is: (1) die identifisering van problematiese kwessies by enkelouergesinne, (2) fokus op klein veranderinge, (3) as dit werk, moet dit nie 'regmaak' nie, (4) as dit nie werk nie, doen iets anders, (5) fokus op dit 'wat reg is', (6) die viering van verandering en uitsonderings. uiteengesette doelwitte en prosedurenotas. Hierdie program poog om die ouer se eie kapasiteit vir die generering van Elke sessie het oplossings te fasiliteer en alternatiewe betekenisse te konstrueer, deur die klem te verskuif van 'n probleemgerigtheid na 'n oplossingsgerigtheid.