Doctor Legum - LLD / In Africa generally, orphaned and vulnerable children are traditionally cared for by their relatives or close family friends; this is an abiding practice even in contemporary times. This was historically considered to be a moral obligation binding on different relatives in different ways or at differing levels. In the face of the increasing complexities and changing demographics in African societies, high levels of poverty and socioeconomic inequalities as well as the incidence of HIV and AIDS, among others, the traditional family continues to undergo structural changes and experience various challenges which make child rearing responsibilities difficult to cope with especially in the context of loss of parental care. Nonetheless, the extended family system still bears the greatest burden in caring for such children, despite the obligation of governments to provide alternative care for children without parental care. The care of children who have become deprived of parental care by other relatives/family members or family friends is generally described as kinship care. This study seeks to examine kinship care against the background of international children’s rights law as encapsulated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations Guidelines on the Alternative Care of Children and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, among others. Thus, this research seeks answers to a number of related research questions such as: Does the international children’s rights framework recognise or provide for kinship care as a measure of alternative care for children deprived of a family environment? What is the history and practice of kinship care in Africa and what are the challenges confronting kinship care in contemporary African societies? What is the relationship between kinship care and the child protection system? And what forms of support are available for kinship care at both the international and national levels? Four main themes are considered in separate chapters of the thesis as follows: the contextual and historical background to kinship care in Africa; the international and regional legal framework on the right to alternative care; the conceptualisation of kinship care as alternative care; and the law and practice of kinship care in selected domestic jurisdictions. South Africa and Namibia are the main focus of this study in the chapter on the status of kinship care at the domestic level. This is mainly because both countries have made some progress in the attempts at (legally) providing for kinship care and addressing some of its attendant challenges, with a particular emphasis on the provision of support for kinship care.

The purpose of this study is to examine the perception of satisfaction of both kinship and non-kinship caregivers of the services offered to them through the child welfare system.

This study explored the caregiving styles of 306 grandparents raising grandchild across three ethnic groups (164 European Americans, 65 Latinos, and 77 African Americans). Significant differences were found in caregiving styles between European Americans and African Americans. Caregiver appraisal (burden, satisfaction, and Mastery) was found to be predictive of caregiving style across the entire sample, and differentially by ethnic group. Caregiver style was predictive of grandchild functioning across the entire sample, and differentially by ethnic group. Lastly, caregiver style was found to be predictive of grandparent well-being across the entire sample, and differentially by ethnic group. Implications are discussed in terms of the complex, multidimensional and culturally embedded nature of the caregiving experience and the importance of considering culture for optimal outcomes.

Dans l’ensemble de la littérature sur le placement, peu d’attention est accordée aux parents d’origine et ce constat n’est que plus saillant dans les écrits portant plus spécifiquement sur le placement auprès de membres de la famille élargie. L’examen critique des écrits sur le sujet montre que les parents vivent différentes émotions complexes, parfois même contradictoires suite au placement de leur enfant. Il ressort notamment des études recensées que plusieurs parents expriment ne pas se sentir entendus et considérés par le système de PJ. La thèse a pour objectif de comprendre l’expérience des parents ayant au moins un de leur enfant confié de façon permanente à un membre de la famille élargie par les services de protection de la jeunesse, et ce, en leur donnant une voix réelle dans la recherche. La thèse mobilise une théorisation de la parentalité proposée par Houzel (1999) et Sellenet (2007). Les auteurs définissent la parentalité selon trois axes: l’expérience, la pratique et l’exercice de la parentalité. Ces trois axes ne peuvent être complètement dissociés et sont étroitement liés les uns aux autres. Bien que ce cadre n’ait pas été développé au départ pour appréhender la parentalité d’enfants placés, il semble pertinent et approprié pour la thèse. La perspective de la thèse est de nature qualitative et exploratoire puisqu’aucune étude n’a été réalisée sur la pratique et l’expérience vécue des parents à qui l’on a retiré un enfant pour le confier à un membre de la famille élargie. La posture méthodologique de la thèse repose sur le récit de vie. Ainsi, neuf parents d’enfants qui ont été confiés à un membre de la famille élargie par les services de PJ du Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et Services Sociaux-centre Sud de l’île de Montréal (CCSMTL) ont été rencontrés à deux reprises. La première rencontre vise à recueillir le récit du parent alors que la deuxième rencontre permet de faire une restitution du récit au parent et permet à ce dernier de valider le récit et d’aller un peu plus loin dans certains thèmes. Il s’agit d’une approche méthodologique qui requiert un engagement important du chercheur et plusieurs étapes d’analyses. Les résultats de la thèse font ressortir l’importance de considérer l’expérience du placement dans une perspective plus large et inclusive de la trajectoire de vie des parents. L’analyse des récits des parents fait ressortir plusieurs thèmes qui rejoignent la théorisation de la parentalité mobilisée pour la thèse. Les récits des parents témoignent du parcours parfois très difficile de certains parents et de leur entrée dans la parentalité comme une expérience bien souvent peu préparée et qui se produit dans des contextes plutôt défavorables. De plus, une typologie exploratoire émerge et montre que l’expérience vécue est, certes variée, mais également grandement influencée des enjeux relationnels passés et présentes dans les situations familiales. L’hypothèse du trauma complexe vécu par plusieurs parents émerge des analyses des récits et avance ainsi certaines réponses au vécu de la parentalité des parents rencontres. La thèse propose trois angles d’intégration de la parentalité vécue dans le contexte du placement permanent de leur enfant auprès d’une FAP. Le premier angle réitère l’aspect central des relations dans la construction de la parentalité et de manière considérable dans le contexte de placement en FAP. Le deuxième intégrant la temporalité et l’histoire de vie des parents. Enfin, le troisième angle propose une lecture critique de la parentalité en soulevant les inégalités sociales qui sous-tendent la construction sociale de la parentalité. En définitive, les résultats de la thèse révèlent les besoins prépondérants des parents et l’importance de bonifier l’offre de services destinés aux adultes autant par le réseau public de santé que par le communautaire. / In the placement literature as a whole, little attention is paid to the parents of origin, and this finding is only made more salient in the literature that focuses on placement with extended family members. A critical review of the literature shows that parents experience a variety of complex and sometimes conflicting emotions following their child's placement. In particular, the studies reviewed indicate that many parents express that they do not feel heard and considered by the youth protection system. The goal of this thesis is to understand the experience of parents who have at least one of their children permanently placed in extended family care by child welfare services by giving them a real voice in the research. The thesis mobilizes a theorization of parenthood proposed by Houzel (1999) and Sellenet (2007). The authors define parenthood along three axes: experience, practice and the exercise of parenthood. These three axes cannot be completely dissociated and are closely linked to each other. Although this framework was not originally developed to understand the parenting of children in care, it seems relevant and appropriate for the thesis. The perspective of the dissertation is qualitative and exploratory in nature as no studies have been conducted on the practice and lived experience of parents who have had a child removed from their care and placed with an extended family member. The methodological posture of the dissertation is based on life stories. Thus, nine parents of children who were entrusted to an extended family member by the youth protection services of the Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et Services Sociaux-centre Sud de l'île de Montréal (CCSMTL) were interviewed twice. The first meeting aims to collect the parent's story, while the second meeting allows the parent to validate the story and to go a little further into certain themes. This is a methodological approach that requires a significant commitment from the researcher and several stages of analysis. The results of the thesis highlight the importance of considering the placement experience from a broader, inclusive perspective of the parents' life trajectory. The analysis of the parents' narratives highlights several themes that align with the theorization of parenthood mobilized for the thesis. The parents' narratives attest to the sometimes very difficult journey of some parents and their entry into parenthood as an experience that is often unprepared and occurs in rather unfavorable contexts. Moreover, an exploratory typology emerges and shows that the lived experience is certainly varied, 8 but also greatly influenced by past and present relational issues in family situations. The hypothesis of complex trauma experienced by many parents emerges from the analyses of the narratives and thus puts forward certain answers to the lived experience of parenthood of the parents encountered. The thesis proposes three angles of integration of the parenthood experienced in the context of the permanent placement of their child with a family member. The first angle reiterates the centrality of relationships in the construction of parenthood and considerably so in the context of placement in a kinship care placement. The second integrates the temporality and life history of the parents. Finally, the third angle proposes a critical reading of parenthood by raising the social inequalities that underlie the social construction of parenthood. Finally, the results of the thesis reveal the predominant needs of parents and the importance of improving the services offered to adults by both the public health network and the community.

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Seventeen grandparent caregivers, who have primary responsibility for one or more grandchildren and do not have a parent of the grandchildren living in the household, were interviewed to evaluate the effectiveness of the services offered by Kinship Family Center (KFC), a non-profit support agency for relative caregivers and the children in their care. Kinship Family Center is a program of the Central City Lutheran Mission and is funded by the San Bernardino County Department of Children's Services. The researchers found that KFC was an effective asset for informal grandparent caregivers. For grandparents, it was a source of support and comfort in their role of "second time around parents." For children, it served as a means to help identify with other children in similar situations.

This study will explore whether the relationships between grandparents and birthparents affect kinship care placement outcomes for court dependent children. Data was extracted from an existing study of kinship care providers.

This investigation attempts to analyse the applicability of child protection policy and legislation to black families and children in South Africa. The literature study focuses on the nature, scope and implications of child protection and child protection legislation, perspectives on children's and parents' rights, and more specifically on child-care policy and legislation in South Africa. A limited exploratory empirical investigation within the confines of the Child and Family Care Society was undertaken. The researcher had, by way of a case analysis, studied factors influencing the application of child-care legislation ~l:'ld described how legislation is being applied in practice. The application of philosophies and principles inherent in child-care policies, and the evolvement of certain patterns and trends have also been analysed. Specific deficiencies have been identified and recommendations regarding more effective social work practice are highlighted. / Social Work / M.A. (Mental Health)

This investigation attempts to analyse the applicability of child protection policy and legislation to black families and children in South Africa. The literature study focuses on the nature, scope and implications of child protection and child protection legislation, perspectives on children's and parents' rights, and more specifically on child-care policy and legislation in South Africa. A limited exploratory empirical investigation within the confines of the Child and Family Care Society was undertaken. The researcher had, by way of a case analysis, studied factors influencing the application of child-care legislation ~l:'ld described how legislation is being applied in practice. The application of philosophies and principles inherent in child-care policies, and the evolvement of certain patterns and trends have also been analysed. Specific deficiencies have been identified and recommendations regarding more effective social work practice are highlighted. / Social Work / M.A. (Mental Health)