Social Work / Maatskaplike Werk (E-Journal)
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RESILIENCE CHARACTERISTICS OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WITH SEVERE OR PROFOUND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to explore family characteristics and resources that assisted families to adapt after their children had been diagnosed with severe or profound intellectual disability. A qualitative research approach with a cross-sectional design was used, as the study was focused on participants’ experiences. It was found that spiritual resources and reformulation of the crisis helped families to reframe their experiences with a more positive outlook. Social support from the family networks, friends and the community, and positive family characteristics, such as perseverance and humour, also contributed to family adaptation and well-being. Good planning regarding daily activities, as well as for their children's future, was also deemed important
AN EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN NAMIBIA – A NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to explore the personal and work-related problems that impact on the productivity of employees in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Namibia. The study further investigated how such problems are dealt with in the workplace and explored the perceptions of employers and employees regarding the provision of an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), as well as the type of EAP viable for the SME sector. Findings of the study revealed that employees experience diverse problems and that SME owners are not equipped to deal with employees’ psychosocial problems effectively. The results also indicated a need for an EAP in SMEs to promote employee wellbeing
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CULTURALLY-APPROPRIATE MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMME FOR BLACK AFRICAN MARRIED COUPLES: OVERVIEW OF PROGRAMMES
Get PDFDevelopment of knowledge on how to support marriages cross-culturally is necessary to inform appropriate solutions, especially for South Africa, where practical marital challenges amongst Black African married couples who are considered to be high risk are noted. The focus of this narrative literature-informed overview is to provide an appraisal of existing and most effective national and international marriage enrichment (ME) programmes, couples theories and social work models as the basis for the possible development of a culturally-appropriate ME programme for Black African married couples. Findings reveal, among other things: 1) there are no culturally-appropriate and empirically evaluated ME programmes beneficial to Black African married couples in SA; 2) appropriate theory is necessary and available for integration; 3) theories recognise marriage as a system, and therefore acknowledgement of various societal structures is fundamental; 4) existing empirically tested and effective programmes supporting couples theories and social work models are suitable to be adapted to the specific context
OUTCRY AND CALL FOR RELIEF: EXPERIENCES AND SUPPORT NEEDS OF PARENTS WITH NYAOPE USERS
Get PDFThe abuse of nyaope as a recent drug added to the market continues to increase at an alarming rate. This drug is causing devastation in previously designated Black townships. The negative consequences of this phenomenon affect users and their parents. This qualitative study looked at the experiences and support needs of parents of nyaope users. Eight parents of nyaope users were interviewed using semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Purposive sampling was used to choose participants. The findings indicate that parents of nyaope users are overwhelmed and cry out for professional help. This study recommends that therapeutic interventions be extended to parents of nyaope users
TRANSFORMING SOCIAL WORK: CONTEXTUALISED SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION IN SOUTH AFRICA
Get PDFDespite significant transformation efforts in South African social welfare, social work education still inducts students into prevailing paradigms. Critics suggest that dominant social work is ineffective in that it is culturally inappropriate, marginalises other knowledges, overlooks structural issues, is expensive and is mismatched to local needs. The term “contextualised social work education” as used in this article incorporates the local focus on decolonisation/decoloniality and indigenisation. This article highlights the work of 12 South African educators in offering contextualised social work education. In exemplifying their decolonising work, the imperatives, challenges, supports and future pathways/options identified by participants are discussed.
SUGGESTIONS FROM SOCIAL WORK DOCTORAL GRADUATES ON WHAT ASPIRANTS NEED TO KNOW BEFORE ENROLMENT
Get PDFThe complexity of societal needs in a new democracy requires a high level of human resources to facilitate transformation among individuals, groups, as well as in society to enhance human circumstances. This requires a distinct contribution to knowledge-building and practice through doctoral research. Six suggestions offered by doctoral graduates indicate that during preparation for this learning journey, aspirants should want to pursue viable topics they are passionate about; be ready to make a unique contribution to the discipline; disseminate and implement findings after completion of their studies; identify a knowledgeable and supportive promoter; have financial assistance; and remain emotionally disposed to engage with an intensive, rigorous programme
RE-POSITIONING SOCIAL WORK IN THE AGENDA TO DEAL WITH VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND SOUTH AFRICA’S TRIPLE CHALLENGES
Get PDFViolence against women (VAW) and the South African triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality are on the national agenda and require urgent attention from all stakeholders. Although social work is ethically bound to deal with VAW, poverty, unemployment and inequality, its voice in the fight against them is silent. Current interventions to address these social challenges have gaps. This article reviews literature to re-position social work in the agenda to deal with VAW and the triple challenges. It is time that South Africa face up to these issues with social work playing its central role in winning the battle
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT: ASSET-BASED COMMUNITY-LED DEVELOPMENT (ABCD) VERSUS THE TRADITIONAL NEEDS-BASED APPROACH TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Get PDFThe research on which this article is based drew a comparison between the asset-based community-led development (ABCD) approach and the more traditional needs-based approach to community development with regard to stakeholder engagement. The main finding of the qualitative study was that communities which were sensitised to ABCD were more self-motivated, self-driven and self-organised, and utilised their own assets and resources in collaboration with external assets and resources. Participants adhering to this approach tended to spell out the kind of support they wanted from external stakeholders. In comparison, in the needs- and problem-based approach, community initiatives were dependent on external funds, while organisations driving the process felt responsible for the success of community initiatives
A COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS AND EDUCATORS: A VEHICLE TO ADDRESS THE SOCIAL CONTEXTS OF LEARNERS AND QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN SOUTH AFRICA
Get PDFEducation is a core indicator of a society’s well-being. Globally, it is an established practice to include school social work into the education system. In South Africa, however, it is rarely integrated into the education system. This is a conceptual paper focusing on the social context of school-going children, reflecting on the existing well thought-through frameworks of psychosocial support and care and integrated service delivery of the South African Departments of Education and Social Development, and also questioning why collaboration between the Departments to implement the frameworks in the school environment appears to be a complicated and slow process