Sulina Green

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: GOOD PRACTICE GUIDELINES

Faced by increasing pressure on resources, stringent policy requirements and pervasive poverty affecting communities, welfare organisations and social workers in South Africa are forced to consider changing the way they operate. This article is based on a study that was undertaken to determine practical guidelines to help social workers and welfare organisations to implement and run social development programmes. An in-depth literature study as well as the findings of the qualitative research undertaken, proved that success can be achieved by adhering to certain good practice criteria which the researchers identified. These criteria, considered as guideposts, could be helpful to practitioners contemplating instituting social development projects.

SOCIAL SERVICES IN CAPE TOWN: AN ANALYSIS USING THE POLITICAL ETHICS OF CARE

At the time of South Africa’s transition to a constitutional democracy in 1994 the African National Congress (ANC) government inherited a deeply divided racially-based social welfare service system. Accordingly, the first priority of the newly elected government was to develop social policies to address the inequalities resulting from the apartheid period and to redirect resources to previously disadvantaged groups, especially black South Africans, since the white community had been the main beneficiaries of specialised professional services and institutional care (Bozalek, 1999; Follentine, 2004; Orner, 2003; Sevenhuijsen, Bozalek, Gouws & Minnaar-McDonald, 2003a; Republic of South Africa, 1997). The ANC’s election manifesto, its Reconstruction and Development (RDP) policy, had committed the government to a number of strategies to meet people’s basic needs and to alleviate poverty and inequality, among them were employment creation; a living wage for all citizens; the democratisation of state structures; housing provision; and land redistribution (Republic of South Africa, 1994). The Constitution reinforced these commitments in its recognition of socio-economic rights, including the rights to adequate housing, health care, food, water, education and social security. The Human Rights Commission and other independent bodies, such as the Gender Commission, were set up by the Constitution to monitor human rights violations. There were expectations that social services would deliver on the social and economic rights outlined in the South African Constitution (1996) within the available resource constraints (Republic of South Africa, 2006).

GROOTMOEDERS IN KAYAMANDI SE ERVARING VAN FAMILIE- PLEEGSORG

Pleegplasings by familie as vorm van substituutsorg, is die vinnigs groeiende kindersorgdiens in die Verenigde State van Amerika (voorts genoem die VSA) as gevolg van ’n afname in geskikte pleegouers (Wilson & Chipunga, 1996:387). Dieselfde tendens word in Suid-Afrika ondervind. Volgens die Witskrif vir Welsyn (Ministry for Welfare and Population Development, 1997) neem versorging van kinders buite hul biologiese ouerhuise toe. Die Discussion Paper van die Kinderwet ( no 74 van 1983) beaam dat die veranderde sosio-ekonomiese behoeftes in Suid-Afrika lei tot ’n afname in geskikte pleegouers (SA Law Commission, 2002:713). Die gebrek aan navorsing (Strydom, 2003:302) oor bejaardes was ’n bydraende motivering om die ervaring van die grootmoeder as familiepleegouer te ondersoek.

LEARNING PROFILES OF SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS: WHO ARE YOU AND HOW SHOULD THIS INFLUENCE MY TEACHING?

This qualitative study explores the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) of social work students on notions of students’ learning profile. Data were obtained from both student and staff participants on third year level within the social work programme during the teaching of a particular module focusing on family wellbeing. The implications of strong reactions during teaching and learning are juxtaposed against the notions of students’ learning profile and participants’ teaching and learning suggestions. Several recommendations are made that have emerged from the study that attempt to relate to students’ learning profile in social work professional learning.

SOME CHALLENGES IN POLICING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Domestic violence is one of the most prevalent forms of violence dealt with by police officers on a daily basis. In order to understand their experiences and response to domestic violence incidents, a purposive sample of twenty-eight police officers in the Western Cape Province were involved in a qualitative phenomenological study. The paper reports on the experiences and challenges of police officers in policing different types of domestic violence. Recommendations on how to equip police officers to deal more effectively with the challenges inherent in domestic violence are offered.

A comparison of subjective quality-of-life indicators across domains of Jewish seniors living in the community

This paper sets out to describe the comparisons of subjective quality-of-life indicators across domains that enable Jewish older persons – and, in particular, those who are members of Cape Jewish Seniors Association, Milnerton1 – to remain living in their communities. From the outset, and for the purpose of this paper, two concepts need clarification. Firstly, the term “Jewish” pertains to any one who professes to be Jewish either through birthright or religious conversion, and who consider themselves Jewish, irrespective of their frequency of attendance at a place of worship. It also pertains to any person of Hebrew descent (Barnhart & Barnhart, 1987:1132; Lamm in Donin, 1991:8). Secondly, the terms “seniors”, “aged” and “older person” are used interchangeably and will be used to denote people aged 60 and over. The Older Persons Bill, South Africa, defines older persons as women and men aged 60 and 65 respectively ( Ministry for Welfare & Population Development, 2003:3).2

BELEID VIR MIDDELMISBRUIK IN HOËRSKOLE

Substance abuse amongst the youth is a growing concern in South Africa. There is also a need for schools to formulate a policy and to design programmes to deal with substance abuse in schools. The aim of this paper is to present some of the perceptions of learners on the relevance of formulating a policy for substance abuse in a school. The rest of the paper is devoted to a problem-solving model which can be used in the process of policy formulation. Recommendations are made that can be used by schools when formulating a policy for substance abuse

TYPES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EXPERIENCED BY WOMEN IN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS

Research and specialised practice indicate that women who are abused by their intimate partners are at an increasing risk the longer the abuse continues. Many men show escalating violent behaviour toward their female partners and many women are killed by their partners (Roche, 1999:24). Several researchers (Artz, 1999:2; Damon, 2003:94; Flinck, Paavilainen & Asredt-Kurki, 2005:383; Gelles, 1999:168; Vincent & Jouriles, 2002:7) view domestic violence as a leading cause of female injury in almost every country. Dwyer, Smokowski, Bricout and Wodarski (1995:185) claim that injuries as a result of domestic violence are more common than from muggings, car accidents and death resulting from cancer combined

THE SOCIO-EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES OF OLDER PERSONS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS

Older persons constitute the fastest growing segment of the population in many nations around the world. The estimation is that by the year 2050 one in every five persons will be 60 years or older (Keigher, Fortune & Witkin, 2000:xiii). According to Branch, Horowitz and Carr (1989:359) visual impairment is the second most prevalent physical impairment among older persons.

SURVIVING A LARYNGECTOMY: THE VIEWS OF POST-OPERATIVE CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES

Major advances in cancer detection and treatment options have now afforded cancer patients the prospect of a longer life. This places various demands upon patients, families and social workers in the field of oncology. A combination of quantitative and qualitative research approaches was used to explore the survivorship experiences of patients and families who presented with an advanced stage of larynx cancer, where a total laryngectomy was indicated, implying removal of the entire larynx. Findings of the study reveal that patients and families mobilise both inner strengths and social support to adapt to inevitable physical changes that follow a laryngectomy.