Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 143-150) Also available in print.

Thesis (Psy. D.)--Wheaton College Graduate School, Wheaton, IL, 2002. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-55).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, 2006. / School of Social Work, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Advisor(s): William H. Barton, Nancy Chism, Carol Hostetter, Marjorie Lyles, Cathy Pike. Includes vitae. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 114-118).

The aim of the dissertation is to form and to reflect individual dilemmas and to search possible approaches and methods of their solution. The task of this dissertation is to describe and sum up possible dilemmas by providing of socials services to families with children in a non-profit-making institution. The dissertation is divided in six chapters where I describe apart from other things a family and social work with it. At the same time a stabilization of the family as one of the most effective form of help to dysfunctional families is introduced here. Further chapters are devoted to ethic and ethical dilemmas. A part of the dissertation is qualitative research realised in form of structured interview with social workers who provide social works to dysfunctional families in a non-profit-making institution. On conclusion of the dissertation there is the analysis of the dilemma from the practice of interviewed workers with help of three ethical theories deontology, utilitarism and ethic of the care. The social work is so connected with ethic in the practice.

Parenthood is a life goal for the majority of individuals and couples who have reached a certain life stage. For many couples parenthood is, however, not a reality through expected means. Statistics gathered, in an unpublished information document, by the Port Elizabeth Infertility and Wellness Clinic, it is estimated that 10 to 15% of all married couples in the region experience infertility. After failed infertility treatment, adoption is considered an option for many couples wishing to have children. The social worker plays an integral role in the assessment and preparation for adoption. However, there is no legislated preparation for the fertility treatment process as there is for adoption in South Africa, yet both processes are intended to result in parenthood shadowed by stressful circumstances for prospective parents. The study explored the experiences of couples who have transitioned from being diagnosed as infertile and have successfully adopted. The study was conducted from a qualitative research perspective and employed the exploratory-descriptive strategy of inquiry. Purposive sampling was applied and eight married couples participated in the study. The participants were sourced from a support and information network for adoptive families as well as referrals from social workers working within the adoption field. Semi-structured interviews were conducted by an independent interviewer with thematic analysis being used for data analysis. Trustworthiness constructs were taken into account to ensure reliability and rigour. The major findings revealed the distinctive experiences regarding fertility treatment, the experiences regarding adoption and suggestions from couples for couples facing similar situations as well as for professionals in practice. The study is viewed as significant in guiding professional services to couples, who are intending to achieve parenthood via adoption, by adding to the body of existing knowledge in adoption and medical social work.

M.A. / Kinship families have cared for children on a full-time basis for thousands of years, and for many years it has been standard practice for welfare agencies to consider the placement of children with kin whenever it becomes necessary to find an alternative way of caring for them. Many welfare experts believe that children will be better served if their care is provided by family members rather than strangers and yet, ironically, little scientific research has been done by welfare agencies and researchers to assess the value of kinship foster placement. Research focusing specifically on black foster parents is very scant. Generally, the decision about the placement of children in kinship homes has been based primarily on the professional observation of social workers as opposed to information derived from research findings. Despite the apparent growth in the use of kinship foster care and the concomitant suspicions about its advisability, children are still being placed in kinship homes. Kinship foster care placement is advocated most by welfare agencies, without the practice having been scientifically assessed. This deficiency has left the field with little information on which to base work with kinship foster families. The main purpose of this study was therefore to gain knowledge and to analyse the facts pertaining to kinship foster placement, and to draw a profile of kinship foster families in the urban residential area of Vosloorus. Quantative descriptive methods were used in this study. The main concern of the study was to collect data in such a way that it could be systematically processed and interpreted reliably. A descriptive design was chosen, as explanations can be tested by means of research questions. Eight research questions were formulated and put to the test. Facts were also established by studying literature reviewing case records, and interviewing foster parents as well as social workers. The results of this study suggest that we have not scientifically thought the purpose and goals of placing children with relatives through, but we have done so on the bases of certain assumptions, that is, we have assumed that relatives would be more willing to care and provide for the children of relatives than those of non-relatives. The study has provided information about kinship foster care and foster family care, focusing on the demographic characteristics of kinship foster parents, the services received by kinship foster parents, the manner in which kinship foster children are treated and the issue of visits by case workers. This study has provided insight and knowledge upon which agencies can base their selection of kinship foster parents. The findings have been discussed, and recommendations offered for policy, practice and future research.

M.A. (Social Work) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.A. (Social Work) / The goals of this study were viewed as the development and evaluation of a parent-training programme for foster parents related to their foster children; that 1s, to apply programme evaluation to a newly-developed social technological item, in this case a specific preventive intervention parent-training programme. The researcher formulated the following objectives towards the achievement of these goals: to present a theoretical perspective on foster care, on the ecological approach which was utilized in the development of the programme, and on programme evaluation; to develop the programme envisaged utilising the DR & U (Development Research and Utilization) model of Edwin Thomas; to evaluate the programme by inviting a group of foster parents, related to their foster children, to participate in the evaluation phase with a view to: * broadening the knowledge and insight of the participants on their foster care situation; * developing a more positive self-concept for programme participants, through improved insight into their foster care situation; * enhancing foster child-foster parent relationships through improved insight into the foster care situation; * improving the family relationships of the programme participants.

Using a structural approach, this study addresses the issues surrounding direct service delivery of the Family Preservation program in Riverside County.

The study explores and describes the satisfaction that clients placed at Trinity Children and Family Services have with the agency's therapeutic services. Therapeutic services in this case refers to the therapy that the residents receive from their individual and group therapists, and their interactions with the unit case manager/dorm supervisor and unit counselors.