Exploring the dynamics of caring for adolescent foster children: developing post-placement guidelines for social work intervention

Abstract

The study examined the challenges of caring for adolescent foster children post-foster placement with the intention to develop guidelines for social work intervention. The research approach of the study was qualitative and various research designs, namely: explorative, descriptive, contextual and phenomenological research designs were used. Non-probability purposive, methods were used to obtain twenty-five participants from various parts of Sedibeng District in Gauteng Province comprises of Emfuleni local Municipality (from areas such as Lakeside, Ironside, Sebokeng and Evaton), and Midvaal Local Municipality from areas such as Sicelo Shiceka, Silahluwe and Meyerton Farms). The study made use of both face-to-face semi-structured interviews and focus group as data collection methods. This study emphasized the challenges encountered by foster parents when raising adolescent foster children. These challenges include lack of parenting skill and training, drug dependence, dynamics of adolescent stage, traumatic events, insufficient supervision by social workers, breakdown of the relationship between foster parent and foster child, and children’s behavioural problems. Amongst these challenges, the findings reveal that parenting incapacity is the main reason for the challenges faced by foster parents. The findings revealed that social workers failed to conduct supervision and monitoring foster care placement due to lack of resources, limited time allocated for each case, excessive caseloads that they experience in the foster care system. Participants pointed out that most children display behavioural problems due to lack of support by the social workers after placement. The findings showed that social workers should provide support to foster parents in the form of parenting training to strengthen their knowledge in managing the behavioural problems encountered when caring for adolescent foster children. Furthermore, they should coordinate the services offered by diverse role-players to foster a collaborative approach to promote positive change within foster families. The other key finding of the study was that the community does have a key role in influencing the behaviour of both foster parents and the children placed in their care.

Ndzavisiso lowu wu kambele swihlawulekisi swa ku hlayisiwa ka vana lava wundliwaka va vakondlo-a-ndzi-dyi endzhaku ka ku vekiwa eka ndhawu ya vuwundli hi xikongomelo xa ku hluvukisa swiletelo swa mphalalo wa tisoxaliweka. Endlelo ra ndzavisiso a ri ra risima naswona ku tirhisiwile tidizayini ta ndzavisiso to hambanahambana ku nga, tidizayini ra ndzavisiso wo valanga, to hlamusela hi ku hlawulekisa, ta ximbangu na ntivavukona. Maendlelo yo sampula, lama nga na xikongomelo ma mipimo leyi nga riki ya muhulahula, lama vanhu va avanyisiwaka hi mitlawa leyitsongo na ku va yo kongomisa eka mutivi un'wana ma tirhisiwile ku kuma vatekaxiave va makumentlhanu kusuka eka swiphemu swo hambanahambana swa Xifundzatsongo xa Sedibeng lexi nga eka Xifundzakulu xa Gauteng lexi vumbiwaka hi Masipala wa Miganga wa Emfuleni (kusuka eka tindhawu to tanihi Lakeside, Ironside, Sebokeng na Evaton), na Masipala wa Miganga wa Midvaal kusuka eka tindhawu to tanihi Sicelo Shiceka, Silahluwe na Mapurasi ya Meyerton). Tiinthavhiyu leti nga na xivumbekohafuto to va mi langutanile na ntlawankongomo swi tirhisiwile tanihi maendlelo ya nhlengeleto wa switiviwa. Ndzavisiso lowu wu tshikelele mitlhontlho leyi ku hlanganiweke na yona hi vatswari vo wundla loko ku kurisiwa vana vo wundliwa va vakondlo-a-ndzi-dyi. Mitlhontlho leyi yi katsa mpfumaleko wa xikili xo hletela tanihi mutswari na vuleteri, vutshemberi eka swidzidziharisi, swihlawulekisi swa xiteji xa vakondlo-a-ndzi-dyi, swiendleko swa xihluku, vulanguteri lebyi nga ringanelangiki bya tisoxaliweka, ku fa ka vuxaka exikarhi ka vatswari vo wundla na n'wana wo wundliwa, na swiphiqo swa matikhomelo swa vana. Exikarhi ka mitlhontlho leyi, swikumiwa leswi swi paluxa leswaku nkavuswikoti wo hletela tanihi mutswari hi wona xivangelokulu xa mitlhontlho leyi ku langutaniwaka na yona hi vatswari vo wundla. Swikumiwa swi paluxe leswaku tisoxaliweka ti hluleke ku endla vulanguteri na ku vekiwa eka ndhawu ya nhlayiso wa vuwundli hikwalaho ka mpfumaleko wa swipfuno, nkarhi wo tsongahala lowu averiweke kheyisi yin'wana na yin'wana, na tilodi ta kheyisi to tala kutlula mpimo leti va hlanganaka na tona eka sisiteme ya nhlayiso wa vuwundli. Vatekaxiave va kombise leswaku vana vanyingi va kombisa swiphiqo swa matikhomelo hikwalaho ka mpfumaleko wa nseketelo hi tisoxaliweka endzhaku ka ku vekiwa eka ndhawu leyi. vii Swikumiwa swi kombe leswaku tisoxaliweka ti fanele ku nyika nseketelo wa vatswari vo wundla hi xivumbeko xa vuleteri byo hletela tanihi mutswari ku tiyisa vutivi bya vona eka ku lawula swiphiqo swa matikhomelo leswi ku hlanganiwaka na swona loko ku hayisiwa vana vo wundliwa va vakondlo-a-ndzi-dyi. Ku yisa emahlweni, va fanele ku kondletela vukorhokeri lebyi nyikiwaka vatlangaxiave vo hambana ku kondlela endlelo ro tirhisana ku kondletela ku cinca lokunene endzeni ka mindyangu ya vuwundli.