The focus of this study is on the evaluation of community based care and support service for older persons in the community. The government of South Africa and other African Countries held several discussions with the intention of addressing the needs and challenges of older persons in the community. As a follow up to the discussion, the new developmental approach, that is the South African Policy for Older Persons of 2005 and the Older Persons Act, 13 of 2006, promulgated in line with the recommendation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on ageing which was drafted and adopted at the World Assembly on Ageing that was convened by the United Nations in 2002. Older Persons Act 13 of 2006 was developed with the intention of addressing the needs of older persons in the community as the Aged Act no 100 of 1967 as amended in 1998, was focusing more on the residential care service. The Older Persons Act 13 of 2006 recognizes the importance of community-based care and support services and this means that the service delivery to older persons has been broadened and services have become more inclusive and accessible. Older persons will be able to remain in their communities within their families for as long as possible. According to the Older Persons Act 13 of 2006, the community-based care and support services means any programmes that are rendered to older persons to enable them to remain independent in their communities for as long as possible. These programmes are preventing the unnecessary admission of older persons in the residential care facilities. According to the Older Persons Act 13 of 2006, the Community-based care and support services are categorized into, namely, prevention and promotion programmes and the home-based care services. These two categories will be discussed in details in this study. In this study the researcher used the older persons (recipients of services), representatives of management committees for the Non-profit organizations rendering services to older persons in the community and the officials of the Department of Social Development as participants. The aim of this study is to discuss and evaluate the community-based care and support services strategy as used by the Department of Social Development in rendering services to older persons within communities in Motheo District (Free State Province) and to raise the viewpoints of direct service providers (management committees) officials of the Department of Social Development and older persons that receive these services, in order to enhance the delivery of this programme. The research methodology that was utilized in this study includes the empirical research and the literature review. A literature review was conducted by the researcher for a clear understanding of the nature and meaning of the problem that has been identified. The questionnaires and interview tools were used by the researcher as methods of data collection. This study consists of two articles, article 1: Background and nature of community-based care and support services and article 2: Evaluation of community-based care and support services The findings from the study indicated that the community based care and support services can be the best and important programme for older persons in the community if it can be well implemented. / MSW, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The focus of this study is on the evaluation of community based care and support service for older persons in the community. The government of South Africa and other African Countries held several discussions with the intention of addressing the needs and challenges of older persons in the community. As a follow up to the discussion, the new developmental approach, that is the South African Policy for Older Persons of 2005 and the Older Persons Act, 13 of 2006, promulgated in line with the recommendation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on ageing which was drafted and adopted at the World Assembly on Ageing that was convened by the United Nations in 2002. Older Persons Act 13 of 2006 was developed with the intention of addressing the needs of older persons in the community as the Aged Act no 100 of 1967 as amended in 1998, was focusing more on the residential care service. The Older Persons Act 13 of 2006 recognizes the importance of community-based care and support services and this means that the service delivery to older persons has been broadened and services have become more inclusive and accessible. Older persons will be able to remain in their communities within their families for as long as possible. According to the Older Persons Act 13 of 2006, the community-based care and support services means any programmes that are rendered to older persons to enable them to remain independent in their communities for as long as possible. These programmes are preventing the unnecessary admission of older persons in the residential care facilities. According to the Older Persons Act 13 of 2006, the Community-based care and support services are categorized into, namely, prevention and promotion programmes and the home-based care services. These two categories will be discussed in details in this study. In this study the researcher used the older persons (recipients of services), representatives of management committees for the Non-profit organizations rendering services to older persons in the community and the officials of the Department of Social Development as participants. The aim of this study is to discuss and evaluate the community-based care and support services strategy as used by the Department of Social Development in rendering services to older persons within communities in Motheo District (Free State Province) and to raise the viewpoints of direct service providers (management committees) officials of the Department of Social Development and older persons that receive these services, in order to enhance the delivery of this programme. The research methodology that was utilized in this study includes the empirical research and the literature review. A literature review was conducted by the researcher for a clear understanding of the nature and meaning of the problem that has been identified. The questionnaires and interview tools were used by the researcher as methods of data collection. This study consists of two articles, article 1: Background and nature of community-based care and support services and article 2: Evaluation of community-based care and support services The findings from the study indicated that the community based care and support services can be the best and important programme for older persons in the community if it can be well implemented. / MSW, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The Student Support Services Program is one of five federally funded “TRIO” programs provided for by Congress and administered by the Department of Education that are designed to improve grade-point averages and the retention and graduation rates of low-income individuals, firs t-generation college students, and students with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to determine if the students who participated in the Student Support Services Program at SVCC achieved higher grade-point averages, retention rates, and graduation rates than did non-participants. There were no significant differences in grade-point averages between Student Support Services (SSS) Program participants and non-participants, The Student Support Services Program participants did have significantly higher retention rates. Student Support Services participants also demonstrated higher graduation rates Findings in this study could serve as a baseline for further study to guide additional improvements in Student Support Services programs at SVCC and other community colleges in the nation.