Many South Africans experience the severe impact of the HIVIAIDS pandemic. The AlDS orphan, specifically, has to suffer the adverse effects of this relentless worldwide catastrophe. The HIVIAIDS orphan is not just another orphan, but someone who suffers from exceptional pressures which may lead to depression, hopelessness and psychological trauma later in life (Coombe, 2003) In order to function well in these circumstances, nterventions that target resilient functioning are needed to empower the AlDS orphan. The purpose of this study was to document, by means of a literature review and empirical research, the phenomenon of resilience among AlDS orphans. In order to achieve this goal, it was necessary to elucidate the concepts HIV/AIDS, pandemic, impacts of the pandemic on South Africa and its orphans, resilience and empowerment of orphans. The aim of the empirical research was to investigate the phenomenon of resilience among HIVIAIDS orphans by conducting both survey and phenomenological research and to compare the functioning of resilient and non-resilient orphans. Some of the important findings include: South African AlDS orphans face multiple risk; the participants of this study show remarkable resilience in spite of adversity; and the resilient AlDS orphans in this study alluded to several intrapersonal and interpersonal protective factors which contribute to their resilience. The findings were used to generate guidelines for individuals, families, education and community stakeholders who interact with AlDS orphans and wish to intervene meaningfully in order to empower AlDS orphans towards (continued) resilient functioning. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2007.

Problem. Approximately 400 000 children are in the year 2018 living in foster care in South Africa. Many of these children have wounds from neglect and abuse from their original family. Even though foster care is intended to be a safe haven many of the children instead end up drifting from one foster home to another, waiting to be placed in a permanent family. Because of the deficiencies in foster care it is of importance to investigate the social workers’ views of a suitable family, since we believe this will affect the assessment, which in the end will affect the child. This thesis explores what conceptions social workers at a child protection organization in South Africa have of a suitable family for vulnerable children. Method. We interviewed seven social workers at mentioned organization, working with formal foster care and reunification with parents or relatives. We use theme analysis to process our findings which we thereafter analyze using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Result. Our findings reveal that the emotional needs of the child are considered most important by the social workers, followed by the physiological needs. Criminal behavior and poor values and morals are thought to make a family unsuitable. Conclusion.  We found that there are some differences in the social workers’ conception of a suitable family for vulnerable children, although they all underlined the same factors as most important. They also state that these children are thought to have the same needs as any other child; it all comes down to what they consider is the best interest of the child. Regardless which values the individual social worker has, what they look for in every family is that the child will feel safe and loved. / Problem. Cirka 400 000 barn lever i fostervård i Sydafrika år 2018. Många av dessa barn är påverkade av den försummelse och våld deras familj har utsatt dem för. Även att syftet med fostervård är att det ska vara en fristad är det många av barnen som flyttar från familj till familj och hela tiden väntar på att komma till en permanent familj. På grund av bristerna i fostervården är det viktigt att undersöka socialarbetarnas syn på en passande familj, eftersom vi anser att detta kommer påverka utredningen, vilket i slutändan kommer påverka barnet. Den här uppsatsen utforskar vad socialarbetare på en barnskyddsorganisation i Sydafrika uppfattar som en passande familj för utsatta barn. Metod: Vi intervjuade sju socialarbetare på nämnd organisation, som arbetar med formell fostervård och återförenande med föräldrar eller släktingar. Vi använder tematisk analys för att bearbeta vårt undersökningsresultat vilket vi sedan analyserar med Maslows behovstrappa. Resultat. Våra undersökningsresultat visar att socialarbetarna anser att de emotionella behoven hos barnet är de viktigaste, vilka sedan följs av de fysiologiska behoven. Kriminellt beteende och olämpliga värderingar och moral tros utgöra en opassande familj. Slutsats. Resultatet visar att det är vissa skillnader i socialarbetarnas uppfattning av en passande familj för utsatta barn, samtidigt som de alla betonar samma faktorer som mest viktiga. De menar också att dessa barn anses ha samma behov som vilket annat barn som helst; allt handlar om vad de anser är det bästa för barnet. Oavsett vilka värderingar den individuella socialarbetaren har, vad de letar efter i varje familj är att barnet ska kunna känna sig säkert och älskat.

In South Africa today only one in every three children lives with both of their biological parents. Most children not living with biological parents live with a grandparent. Vulnerable children are those whose basic needs for food, shelter, safety, protection, and education are not met or are insufficiently met. Many children who are orphaned are vulnerable, but vulnerability is not limited to orphans only. Children who live with their grandparents can be called vulnerable children as they suffer the loss of parental contact through death, illness, abandonment or migrant labour. Care-givers of vulnerable children face numerous challenges in their daily lives. Although the care of grandchildren by grandmothers is not unusual or new, the traditional network of financial and emotional support for this care-giving task has gradually fallen away over the years as parents are deceased, or too ill to work or have abandoned their children. This has left care-givers, many of whom are elderly and themselves vulnerable, with less resources and more financial and care-giving responsibility. Care-givers and the children for whom they care live in a wider context of poverty, unemployment, the HIV pandemic and crime in South Africa. Care-givers are at risk of burn-out due to the intensity of the challenges they face. Increasing resilience of care-givers serves to increase the positive outcomes for the vulnerable children in their care. The goal of this study was to explore whether participation in awareness-based Gestalt group work sessions would enhance the resilience of care-givers of vulnerable children. In the context of applied research, a mixed methods approach was used, specifically an embedded mixed methods approach. The study measured respondents‟ resilience before and after the implementation of a series of eight Gestalt group work sessions. A quasi-experimental research design, the comparison group pre-test-post-test design, was used for the quantitative part of the study and a case study design for the qualitative part. Quantitative data were collected through a structured interview using a pre-determined interview schedule based on theoretical constructs of resilience. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observations and field notes. The respondents were 19 care-givers of vulnerable children from a semi-rural area in KwaZulu-Natal. They were selected through snowball sampling and were assigned into comparison and experimental groups through a simple random sampling method. The experimental group participated in the Gestalt group work sessions whilst the comparison group did not. Although the quantitative results showed no significant difference in the pre- and post-test results, the qualitative results confirmed that experimental group members experienced a positive effect upon their resilience through participating in the Gestalt group work. Conclusions drawn from the qualitative findings indicated that respondents had a high level of resilience present in their lives before the research began. The awareness-based Gestalt group work sessions had a positive impact upon aspects related to the resilience of care-givers of vulnerable children. / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Master of Public Health - MPH / Background: The repercussions of being HIV positive coupled by the complications of antiretroviral therapy are likely to cause distress, emotional and psychological problems particularly among children infected by the virus. The limited support services for children experiencing distress intensify the urgency to address this challenge. Despite the availability of social workers and nurses' interventions currently in place, the number of children in need of psychological care continues to increase. This is particularly true at Deborah Retief Memorial (DRM) hospital, one of the main antiretroviral therapy facilities in Kgatleng district, Botswana. Method: The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the perceptions of social workers, nurses and caregivers on key factors contributing to psychological distress of HIV positive children. A descriptive, exploratory qualitative study design that employed the use of in-depth interviews was used to conduct this study. Participants included four caregivers of HIV positive children who seek antiretroviral therapy at DRM hospital Infectious Diseases Control Clinic, together with five nurses and two social workers who worked in the same clinic. Conventional content analysis was used to analyse the in-depth interview transcripts. Results: Perceived psychological stressors for HIV positive children included disclosure of HIV status, orphanhood, social problems, lifelong treatment, stigma, poor caregiver-child relationship and lack of caregiver‟s love, care and support. However the caregivers did not fully understand the psychological distress the HIV positive children were experiencing, hence were unable to recognize it in these children. The study highlighted that major challenges faced by the health-workers included lack of qualified personnel, lack of adequate knowledge and skills, and a non-conducive working environment required to effectively assist children with psychological distress. The findings also indicated the need for education and support of caregivers and HIV positive children by the educators, family and health-worker systems. Conclusion: The profile of key stressors of psychological distress, the challenges and support needs suggested by the participants in this study can provide a framework for improving the existing services for HIV positive children with psychosocial problems. This information is important for use in training nurses and social workers involved with children with psychological behaviours.

This study, aimed at analysing the methods used by caregivers to construct their own resilience at a residential care facility for orphaned and vulnerable children, forms part of a larger study investigating the role of emotional awareness in caregivers. Convenience selection was used for the research site on account of accessibility, and purposive selection for the participants owing to their role as caregivers at the care facility. The qualitative case study method facilitated contextual investigation of the matter at hand. Data were collected by means of a focus group discussion with seven participants, individual interviews with four participants, and the researcher’s informal observations in order to elucidate the main research question: How do formal caregivers of orphaned and vulnerable children construct their own resilience? Kumpfer’s Resilience Framework served as the theoretical foundation for the study. Thematic analysis of the data yielded the following themes: demonstrating resilience when functioning within an unsupportive environment; demonstrating resilience when establishing a sense of control; demonstrating resilience through belief; and resilience born out of identity as a caregiver. Results were related to existing literature and the theoretical framework. Furthermore, a conceptual framework for the South African context is suggested. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / lk2014 / Educational Psychology / MEd / Unrestricted

Child and Youth Care is another profession that falls under the social services sector. A contextualization of child and youth care field within the broader socio-economic South African context is presented. In particular, the contribution of child and youth care as a unique field is outlined in this study. The ecological systems theory was used as the theoretical framework to underpin the study. This theory acknowledges that child and youth care as a field and child and youth care workers as professionals are not working in isolation, but are affected by the socio-economic dynamics within the broader macro-system. In the context of applied research, this study investigated the challenges and coping strategies of child and youth care workers in the South African context. Qualitative methodology was used to allow participants some reflection on the challenges experienced and coping strategies used by them. By utilizing the collective case study design, 11 focus group interviews were conducted in six provinces of South Africa to collect data from 93 participants. The participants were employed in government organisations and non-governmental organisations. Participants further represented child and youth care workers from rural, semi-urban and urban areas. Findings revealed that child and youth care workers are faced with an array of challenges which fall under the following categories: psycho-social challenges, professional challenges and socio-economic challenges. Under each of these categories, a range of themes and sub-themes have emerged. Themes and sub-themes that emerged under psycho-social challenges are as follows: inability to disengage from work environment, disengagement from socialisation activities, personal trauma, invasion of personal boundaries and emotional well-being issues. Coping strategies that emerged are: non-existent coping mechanisms, personal mission, substance use and quitting. Under the professional challenges category, the following themes have emerged: dealing with clients’ behaviours, personal risk, lack of tangible and immediate results, poor stakeholder relations, lack of clarity on the role and title of the child and youth care worker, inconsistent job requirements, lack of recognition, lack of training and promotion opportunities and inadequate working conditions. To cope with these challenges, the following strategies have emerged: non-existent coping mechanisms, personal support networks and professional support networks. A range of concepts emerged under each of the sub-themes. The specific features of the sub-theme ‘personal support networks’ include: rationalizing, self-protection and self-care. Coping strategies under professional support networks include: colleagues, team meetings, supervision, and psychological support systems. Challenges that emerged under socio-economic category are: inadequate remuneration structures and inadequate programme funding. To cope with these challenges, it emerged that participants resort to budgeting, formal and informal lending mechanisms, and alternative income generating streams. Upon closer inspection of all the challenges, the study revealed that many of these challenges originate from child and youth care workers not being fully recognised as professionals. Formal recognition of this category of workers will go a long way in resolving a number of challenges raised by the participants. It is also assumed that when registered, child and youth care workers will experience better working conditions which will also enable them to be remunerated properly in line with their counterparts within the social service professions. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / tm2015 / Social Work and Criminology / PhD / Unrestricted

The researcher has identified an aspect of the practical implementation of the social services rendered to vulnerable children that required attention. This was that a child’s emotional wellness is influenced by the circumstances in which the child is raied. Children removed from the care of their primary caregiver and placed in alternative care tend to be emotionally needy. Without efficient stimulation, the cycle of unhealthy emotional intelligence will continue from one generation to the next, as children cannot stimulate their own children appropriately when they become parents, if they were never stimulated appropriately themselves. This study dealt with the influence that group work may have on the emotional intelligence of vulnerable children in middle childhood. A literature study was conducted, which contains information regarding group work and the emotional development of children in middle childhood. This information also formed the basis of a questionnaire. The empirical study involved group work with five vulnerable children in middle childhood placed in places of safety under the auspices of Tsenang Homes of Safety. The study was conducted in the onegroup- pre-test-post-test context of the quasi-experimental design. Therefore a pretest was conducted to gain an understanding of the group members’ pre-existing emotional intelligence. After eight group work sessions, two post-tests, utilising the same questionnaire as was used during the pre-test, were conducted by each group member. The pre-test and post-tests results were compared and illustrated in the findings. The empirical data obtained in this study revealed that group work can be utilised to enhance the emotional intelligence of vulnerable children in middle childhood. Therefore, from this study conclusions and recommendations for future studies and practice were formulated. / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

The pandemic is not only a crisis itself but has created multiple crises for the vulnerable population as well. Worldwide, they encountered multiple challenges to assistance and protection, but due to the pandemic, their needs might have increased. As the number of refugees, migrants, and asylum-seeker is rising, all the health risks and the challenges that this group is exposed to, demonstrates the need for increased support, protection, and assistance. This scoping review aims to investigate if the arisen challenges faced by vulnerable children and their families have exacerbated in the context of COVID-19, in the published research literature. In this scoping review, information was collected on multiple databases between January and February 2021. Seven empirical studies were analysed in order to examine which are the new challenges that have arisen due to COVID-19 and explore if they worsened in this context. Seven areas emerged due to the pandemic: hygiene measures, food insecurity, child labour, child marriage, freedom of movement, access to education, access to services and sources of information, while five areas have worsened: economic, psychological, violence, discrimination and overcrowding. The findings are showing that COVID-19’s disease burden is higher in vulnerable contexts, due to the living conditions, high risks jobs, and poor access to services. The outcomes of these challenges are likely to be long-standing, as they breached into the processes and structures of the family system Although efforts to control the virus’s spread remain critical, the negative effects on vulnerables, must be addressed and identified to avoid the risk of more challenges getting exacerbated, and reduce the parental stress that will lead to the well-being of the future generations. Limitations, practical implications and future research are discussed.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements and the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Library and Information Science at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2013. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the information needs and seeking behaviour of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and caregivers, and to examine the role of service providers in disseminating information to OVC and caregivers in Namibia. Although several studies focusing on different aspects of the OVC situation have been done, the researcher could not identify any study that focused on the information needs and seeking behaviour of OVC and their caregivers in Namibia and how the two groups satisfy their information needs at present. In order to obtain data from the respondents, the study adopted qualitative and quantitative research methods for data collection. A questionnaire was mailed to the sampled service providers, while interviews were conducted with OVC and caregivers. Focus group discussions were also held with caregivers and key informants in order to explore the general attitudes, feelings, beliefs, experiences and reactions of the research population with respect to information needs and seeking behaviours. The study took place in the rural community of Ohangwena and the urban setting of Khomas. A total of 566 OVC, 70 caregivers, and 18 services providers from both regions took part in the study. A total of eleven focus group discussions took place; eight focus group discussions were held in Ohangwena, while three were in the Khomas region. Both rural and urban OVC indicated that they needed information in order to access financial vii assistance/grants, child care/support, feeding schemes, and health services. The most important information required, according to the OVC from Ohangwena, was information on school development fund exemption, financial assistance or grants, health services, child care/support and training opportunities. The OVC from Khomas had similar priorities with the exception of training opportunities, which was replaced with counselling. Both rural and urban OVC consulted relatives, teachers, and friends to satisfy their information needs, indicating that people were their most important source of information. The findings from focus group discussions (FGDs) with caregivers and key informants indicated that there are disparities between rural and urban areas in terms of information access and use based on literacy and education. For example, the rural dwellers cited their need for information on educational support, psychological and counselling services, child care/support, and job opportunities. In the urban setting of Khomas, educational support and the establishment of small businesses featured as prominent needs. The FGDs revealed that the radio, traditional leaders, regional councillors, friends and relatives were the most important sources and channels of information in Ohangwena, while in Khomas, friends and relatives, community leaders, and regional councillors were the most popular channels. Social workers and the television were also popular channels in Khomas. The findings of the study indicate that service providers provide a range of services to OVC and caregivers in both rural and urban areas. In the rural areas, the majority of the supporting organisations had health-related programmes focusing on feeding schemes and nutrition, and HIV/AIDS awareness. In urban areas, service providers provided psychosocial support, counselling, and resilience services. The findings reveal that the majority of the service providers used community meetings and public forums to communicate their own information and to create awareness of their services in both regions. The channels that were most frequently used in Ohangwena were community meetings and open forums, while the use of volunteers featured prominently in Khomas. The OVC and caregivers encountered various problems in accessing information, including: long distance to access information and services; language barrier for printed materials; shortage of service providers in rural areas; lack of coordination of service providers; and viii bureaucratic red tape from government departments. Major recommendations stemming from the study include: the need for service providers to provide clear information on how to access the different services that target OVC and caregivers; service providers should collaborate and use mass media channels to disseminate information; the need for a “one stop shop” where all information related to OVC services would be made available; and the need to provide information in local languages. The study concluded that information provision is a crucial resource for OVC and caregivers because it helps them identify and take advantage of available services. Conversely, lack of information leads to the lower utilization of available services and increased poverty and disempowerment. Several recommendations are made on how to improve the flow of information to OVC and caregivers to help them easily locate and use facilities and services that have been set up for them either by the government, or by non-governmental organisations and other service providers. The study also proposes a model to improve the provision of information to OVC and caregivers in the two regions. / University of Zululand

Masters in Public Administration - MPA / Currently, in South Africa, more than half of its children find themselves living in households and communities without adequate child welfare facilities. These conditions render them vulnerable as they have no control over their life circumstances. This has emerged as a growing concern, and a problem. This thesis attempts to enhance our understanding of some important interventions and support structures available to these children, families and communities. The study is vital as post-1996 the South African government has made strides in ensuring that through the 1996 Constitution, the Child Act of 2005 and the White Paper for Social Welfare, 1997 and other progressive social policies there is the gradual improvement of child welfare in the country. These legislations are a social policy to address the needs of children post-1996 to ensure social justice and equity in the country. Despite these efforts, implementation challenges are rife.