The research was motivated by social workers’ need to develop additional resources to address the problems of adolescents in disadvantaged communities. The main goal was to explore mentors as a potential resource. More specifically whether sports coaches could be considered natural mentors in terms of the social support they provided to their adolescent players. The types of social support the literature ascribed to mentors were used to analyze the experiences of a sample of 10coaches and 63 adolescents drawn from six schools. The data was gathered through individual interviews with coaches and single focus groups with the adolescents. The findings suggested sports coaches were competent to provide guidance on certain moral, social and educational topics in a group mentoring situation as well as one on one mentoring to individual cases as part of a multi disciplinary team. / Social Work / M. A. (Social Sciences (Mental Health))

No description available.

Many older youth in foster care lack adequate resources and ongoing support in their social networks as they transition into young adulthood, while other youth in these circumstances experience stable social networks providing comprehensive support. Systematically measuring the supportive personal and service-oriented relationships in youth networks expands the scope of inquiry in this area by identifying patterns of social network structure, member composition, and relational qualities that are associated with more or less support provision through formal and informal relationships. These can also be measured over time to observe changes in network form and content and assess network stability. This exploratory study (1) describes the support networks for a small sample of youth with foster care experience who are enrolled in post-secondary education and training programs, (2) assesses changes in these networks over time, and (3) demonstrates the reliability and validity of this methodology for broader use with populations of transition-age foster youth. Findings show that family (biological and foster) and friends are the most prevalent informal supports, relationship ties to parent figures are strongest and provide the most stable and multi-dimensional support, and ties with formal service providers are not as strong, but provide more informational support. The stability of a network ties over time is associated with the breadth of support provided, and network-based social support is associated with post-secondary enrollment at follow-up. Support network profiles are described and interpreted in terms of bonding and bridging social capital. Discussion includes implications for future support network research and guidelines for pre-transition assessment of youth networks in practice.

As a result of the Zimbabwean socio-economic and political crisis many have joined the Diaspora leaving their children behind in the care of others. Qualitative research in the form of in-depth semi-structured interviews carried out with seventeen adolescent Zimbabwean Diaspora orphans evidenced a number of emerging themes that illuminate how these adolescents view their situation, such as symptomology of depression, feelings of abandonment and rejection, conflicting feelings, lack of social support, the importance of communication, role changes and additions, materialism, challenges presented by relationships with caregivers, and vulnerability to sexual abuse and molestation. Most of the themes do not appear to be country specific but are shared by adolescent Diaspora orphans world-wide. Defence and coping mechanisms employed by these adolescents to cope with parental absence were also identified. Recommendations aimed at optimising their integration in society and suggestions for further research in this field conclude this study. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: During the researcher's work at the South African National Council for Alcohol and Drug Dependence (SANCA), based at the Paarl-office, it was obvious that adolescent substance abuse was growing into a huge governmental concern. During the first half of 2004 the average age of patients at drug rehabilitation centres who used crystal methamphetamine (streetname: "tik-tik") as their primary substance of abuse were between the ages of 15-19 years. Crystal methamphetamine is the latest drug that has taken the Western Cape by storm. It is obvious that the root of the problem is not being addressed since the number of adolescents abusing drugs seems to increase rather than decrease. The goal and aims of the study focuses on the factors contributing to adolescent substance abuse, parenting styles and -roles that contribute to adolescent substance abuse, and providing guidelines to social workers regarding the role of the family in the prevention of adolescent substance abuse. Adolescents have to deal with the new changes that occur, together with aspects such as, peer pressure, negative self-image, irresponsibility by the community and parents, poor parent-child relationships as well as socio-cultural variables that often lead tot substance abuse. Parents were found to be the role-models for their children and their parents' values, attitudes and behaviour regarding alcohol and/or drugs influence the values, attitudes and behaviour of their children. Therefore it seems that parents are primarily responsible for the prevention of adolescent substance abuse and the research study aims at providing facilitation skills on prevention strategies to social workers in order to successfully starting prevention of adolescent substance abuse. The quality of a family-system seems to have an important influence on adolescents in their growing up years, since adolescents experience a variety of changes and have to learn how to handle and accept these changes. During the literature study it was found that a negative family environment and negative experiences contribute to negative behaviour of adolescents, because the family is the primary unit where children learn their values, attitudes and processes that regulate their actions throughout their lives. A paradigm shift should be facilitated by social workers on maintaining healthy family relationships regarding the prevention of adolescent substance abuse. Supportive family-centred services therefore provide the best in adolescents' positive development, as well as identifying the most important needs of adolescents. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorser was gedurende die navorsingstudie as 'n maatskaplike werker by Die Suid Afrikaanse Nasionale Raad vir Alkohol en Dwelmafhanklikheid (SANRA) te Paarl aangestel. Na aanleiding van die werkslading kon die navorser tot die gevolgtrekking kom dat adolessente se middelemisbruik groot bekommernis vir die staat beteken. Gedurende die eerste helfte van 2004 was die gemiddelde ouderdom van pasiënte in dwelmrehabilitasiesentrums wie crystal methamphetime (straat naam: "tik-tik") as hul primêre middel van misbruik aangedui het, tussen die ouderdomme van 15-19 jaar. Na aanleiding van statistieke is dit duidelik dat die kern van die probleem nie aangespreek word nie, aangesien die hoeveelheid adolessente wie middele misbruik toeneem anders as om af te neem. Die doel en doelstellings van die studie fokus op die faktore wat bydra tot adolessente se middelemisbruik, ouerskapstyle en -rolle wat bydra tot adolessente se middelemisbruik, en die bied van riglyne aan maatskaplike werkers rakende die rol van die gesin tot die voorkoming van adolessente se middelemisbruik. Adolessente moet leer om die nuwe veranderinge in hullewens te hanteer, tesame met aspekte soos groepsdruk, negatiewe selfbeeld, onverantwoordelikheid deur die gemeenskap, swak ouer-kind verhoudings en sosio-kulturele veranderlikes wat telkens tot middelemisbruik bydra. Daar is gevind dat ouers die rolmodelle vir hul adolessente moet wees en dat ouerlike waardes, houdings en gedrag rakende alkohol en/of dwelms die waardes, houdings en gedrag van hul adolessente beïnvloed. Daarom blyk dit dat die primêre verantwoordelikheid op die ouers berus tot die voorkoming van adolessente se middelemisbruik en die navorsingstudie poog om die fasilitering van voorkomingstrategieë aan maatskaplike werkers te bied ten einde die voorkoming van adolessente se middiemisbruik aan te spreek. Die kwaliteit van die gesinsisteem het 'n belangrike invloed op adolessente in hul grootwordjare, aangesien adolessente 'n verskeidenheid veranderinge ervaar en moet leer hoe om die veranderinge te hanteer en te aanvaar. Gedurende die literatuurstudie is bevind dat 'n negatiewe gesinsomgewing en negatiewe ervarings bydra tot negatiewe gedrag van adolessente, omdat die gesin die primêre eenheid is waar adolessente hul waardes, houdings en prosesse aanleer wat hul aksies gedurende hullewens reguleer. 'n Paradigmaverskuiwing moet vervolgens deur maatskaplike werkers gefasiliteer word tot die handhawing van gesonde gesinsverhoudings ten opsigte van adolessente se middelemisbruik. Ondersteunende gesinsgesentreerde dienste bied vervolgens die beste opsie vir adolessente se positiewe ontwikkeling, sowel as om die mees belangrikste behoeftes van adolessente te identifiseer.

Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study was undertaken to investigate the perspectives of a group of teenage mothers from a disadvantaged community, on their need for support and suggestions for a community support programme. This study forms part of a community support project in which the Department of Educational Psychology of the University of Stellenbosch is currently involved. The findings of this study will be applied to plan effective interventions for teenage mothers. I made use of a qualitative research design and approached the study from an interpretive paradigm to gain insight in and an understanding of the participants’ perspectives. The focus group interview was my primary method of research. The data generated by six focus group interviews were verified through individual interview data. I also used a biographical questionnaire to obtain background information from each participant. Furthermore, I made comprehensive notes on my personal reflections and observations about the research process, and this became part of the research data. Through the process of data analysis, seven themes were identified. These themes are: material support; financial support; contact between the father and his child(ren); knowledge, advice and information; emotional support; practical support and access to employment. The participants also made suggestions for a support programme. The findings of the study indicate that programmes aimed at job creation, the accessibility of the government grant and support groups in the community could lead to enhanced support for teenage mothers. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie is onderneem om 'n groep tienermoeders uit 'n benadeelde gemeenskap se perspektiewe oor ondersteuning te ondersoek, veral ten opsigte van hulle behoeftes aan ondersteuning en hulle voorstelle vir 'n gemeenskapsondersteuningsprogram. Die studie vorm deel van 'n gemeenskapsondersteuningsprojek waarby die Departement Opvoedkundige Sielkunde van die Universiteit Stellenbosch tans betrokke is. Die bevindinge van die studie sal aangewend word om effektiewe intervensies vir tienermoeders te beplan. Ten einde insig en begrip vir die deelnemers se perspektiewe te ontwikkel, het ek van 'n kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp gebruik gemaak en die studie vanuit 'n interpretivistiese paradigma benader. My primêre metode van ondersoek was ses fokusgroeponderhoude. Die data wat op hierdie manier gegenereer is, is deur middel van individuele onderhoude geverifieer. Ek het ook gebruik gemaak van 'n biografiese vraelys om agtergrondinligting oor elke deelnemer te verkry. Omdat ek binne ‘n kwalitatiewe navorsingsproses werk, was my persoonlike refleksies en waarnemings deel van die navorsingsproses. Deur middel van die proses van data-analise het sewe temas uit die data na vore gekom. Die volgende temas is geïdentifiseer: materiële ondersteuning; finansiële ondersteuning; kontak tussen die pa en sy kind(ers); kennis, raad en inligting; emosionele ondersteuning; praktiese hulp en toegang tot werk. Die deelnemers het ook voorstelle vir 'n ondersteuningsprogram gemaak. Die bevindinge van die studie dui daarop dat programme ten opsigte van werkskepping, die toeganklikheid van die staatstoelaag en ondersteuningsgroepe in die gemeenskap moontlik tot groter ondersteuning van tienermoeders sal bydra.

Thesis (M.S.)--Yale. / "This study was supported in full by United States Public Health Service Grant 2T1 MH-7903." "Publication number 21-1386." Bibliography: p. 81-82.

Thesis (M.S.)--Yale. / "This study was supported in full by United States Public Health Service Grant 2T1 MH-7903." "Publication number 21-1386." Bibliography: p. 81-82.

As a result of the Zimbabwean socio-economic and political crisis many have joined the Diaspora leaving their children behind in the care of others. Qualitative research in the form of in-depth semi-structured interviews carried out with seventeen adolescent Zimbabwean Diaspora orphans evidenced a number of emerging themes that illuminate how these adolescents view their situation, such as symptomology of depression, feelings of abandonment and rejection, conflicting feelings, lack of social support, the importance of communication, role changes and additions, materialism, challenges presented by relationships with caregivers, and vulnerability to sexual abuse and molestation. Most of the themes do not appear to be country specific but are shared by adolescent Diaspora orphans world-wide. Defence and coping mechanisms employed by these adolescents to cope with parental absence were also identified. Recommendations aimed at optimising their integration in society and suggestions for further research in this field conclude this study. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

A presente dissertação teve como objetivo geral analisar a Rede de Atendimento que se constitui a partir do adolescente privado de liberdade no Centro de Socioeducação de Pato Branco – PR (Cense), o lócus da pesquisa. O Cense é uma instituição estadual que atende aos adolescentes em cumprimento de medidas socioeducativas de internação em virtude do cometimento de ato infracional. Para atender o que preconiza a legislação específica para adolescentes privados da liberdade o Cense necessita integrar a Rede de Atendimento do município e utilizar-se dos recursos disponíveis na comunidade. Para analisar a Rede buscou-se suporte teórico e metodológico na Teoria Ator- Rede a qual tem como principal autor Bruno Latour. Apresenta também, uma discussão sobre a modernidade e a separação que esta provocou criando polos: entre sociedade e natureza, humanos e não-humanos, especialistas e leigos. Esta divisão é questionada pela Teoria Ator-Rede, a qual aponta caminhos para analisar a constituição dos coletivos (associações). O Estudo apresenta de forma breve, a trajetória da constituição das instituições de atendimento aos adolescentes privados de liberdade no Brasil e no Paraná. Na qual, se apontam as condições materiais destes sujeitos que estão distantes dos benefícios das promessas da modernidade. A pesquisa utilizou-se de alguns instrumentos: observação participante, diário de campo, entrevistas e formulários com questões abertas. Para representação da Rede formada a partir das indicações dos entrevistados utilizou-se da ferramenta Ucinet 6 ®. Em síntese, as análises sinalizaram que a Rede formal criada pelas normativas e legislações não se apresenta como um recurso que poderia ser acessada plenamente pelos adolescentes privados da liberdade. Que a Rede acessada pelos adolescentes integram mais elementos não formais do que as instituições legalmente constituídas. E, que a articulação entre as diferentes instituições governamentais e não-governamentais ainda se constituiu um ideal a ser alcançado. / The present dissertation had as general objective to analyze the Network of Attendance that is constituted from the adolescent deprived of freedom in the Center of Socioeducation of Pato Branco - PR (Cense), the locus of the research. Cense is a state institution that serves adolescents in compliance with socio-educational measures of deprivation due to the commission of an infraction. In order to meet the requirements of the specific legislation for adolescents deprived of liberty, Cense needs to integrate the Municipal Service Network and use the resources available in the community. In order to analyze the Network, theoretical and methodological support was sought in the Theory-Actor Network whose main author is Bruno Latour. It also presents a discussion about the modernity and the separation it has created by creating poles: between society and nature, human and non-human, specialists and lay people. This division is questioned by the Actor-Network Theory, which points out ways to analyze the constitution of the collectives (associations). The study briefly presents the trajectory of the constitution of institutions for the care of adolescents deprived of their liberty in Brasil and Paraná. In which, it is pointed out the material conditions of these subjects that are far from the benefits of the promises of modernity. The research used some instruments: participant observation, field diary, interviews and forms with open questions. For the representation of the Network formed from the interviewees indications, the Ucinet 6 ® tool was used. In summary, the analyzes indicated that the formal network created by norms and laws is not a resource that could be fully accessed by adolescents deprived of their liberty. That the Network accessed by adolescents integrate more non-formal elements than legally constituted institutions. And, that the articulation and between the different governmental and non-governmental institutions still constituted an ideal to be reached.