Strategies used by child and youth care workers in to develop belonging and foster healthy attachments with young people in care in child and youth care centers in Tshwane, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 118 ◽  
pp. 105373
Author(s):  
Mizeck Chimange ◽  
Sue Bond
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Young People ◽  
Youth Care ◽  
Child And Youth Care ◽  
Care Workers

scholarly journals COVID-19 and Alternative Care in South Africa: Children’s Responses to the Pandemic. A Case Study from a Child and Youth Care Centre in Mogale City

2020 ◽  
pp. 234930032097592
Author(s):  
Rika Swanzen ◽  
Gert Jonker
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Emergency Response ◽  
Vulnerable Populations ◽  
Youth Care ◽  
Daily Routine ◽  
Care Centre ◽  
Child And Youth Care ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Caregiver Burnout

The experiences from a case study are evaluated against the aspects such as emergency response to vulnerable populations and other sources from the literature to serve as guidelines for the management of an epidemic in a child and youth care centre (CYCC). To help understand the effects of the epidemic on the centre, this article describes experiences in terms of the meeting of needs. A discussion of the following are part of the article: • A reflection will be provided on the observed stages the children and child and youth care workers (CYCWs) went through during 177 days of a national lockdown; • Indications of caregiver burnout; • Experiences around the meeting of children’s needs through the lens of child and youth care (CYC) theory; and • Proposed areas needing attention in mitigating risks. Some lessons learnt from the daily routine established to manage the lockdown regulations, sometimes experienced as nonsensical, are shared. From these reflections, questions for research are provided from a practice-based evidence approach, mainly aimed at determining the readiness of a CYCC to manage a state of disaster, while needing to focus on meeting children’s needs.

Care Leavers’ and Their Care Workers’ Views of Preparation and Aftercare Services in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Bond
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Youth Care ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Child And Youth Care ◽  
Aftercare Services ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Care Leavers

Emerging adulthood is an exciting time, filled with possibilities while remaining supported. However, care leavers’ journeys into adulthood are compressed and lacking educational, financial, and social support. In South Africa, this is exacerbated by contextual factors and the absence of mandated services for care leavers. A qualitative study was conducted with four Child and Youth Care Centers in a town in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Focus groups were held with young people in care and their care workers. Discussions focused on preparation for leaving care and aftercare services and the evaluation of these by each group of participants. Care leaving preparation consisted of independent living skills programs. Aftercare services were provided on an ad hoc basis, and there was no policy with respect to services to care leavers. The findings suggest that ongoing experiential learning and implementation of in-house policies may better prepare care leavers for emerging adulthood.

The Way in Which Child and Youth Care Workers in South Africa Cope with Psychosocial Challenges

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesiba Phineas Molepo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Youth Care ◽  
Collective Case Study ◽  
Child And Youth Care ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Psychosocial Challenges

Child and youth care workers deal with the psychosocial challenges experienced by young people in their care and may as a result themselves experience stress, anxiety and depression. This paper explores the psychosocial challenges experienced by child and youth care workers in South Africa, and the coping strategies that they apply. A collective case study design within a qualitative approach was used. Purposive sampling was used, with the sample consisting of 93 participants from government and non-governmental organisations based in rural, semi-urban and urban areas across the six provinces of South Africa. An interview schedule was designed to collect qualitative data from 11 focus group interviews. Data analysis was divided into data reduction, data display, and drawing and verifying conclusions. Psychosocial challenges identified by the participants were the inability to disengage from the work environment, disengagement from social activities, personal trauma, invasion of personal boundaries, and emotional well-being issues. The following broad coping strategies were identified: non-existent coping mechanisms, personal missions, substance abuse, withdrawal, and thoughts of quitting. Child and youth care workers experience a range of psychosocial challenges but have established a range of mostly adequate and contextually relevant coping strategies. The paper recommends that child and youth care workers find a healthy balance between their personal and professional life, timeously seek psychosocial support, and keep on developing themselves to acquire skills that will enhance their practice and broaden their scope of practice.

scholarly journals Factors associated with retention intentions among Isibindi child and youth care workers in South Africa: results from a national survey

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tonya R. Thurman ◽  
Tory M. Taylor ◽  
Johanna Nice ◽  
Brian Luckett ◽  
Myra Taylor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Youth Care ◽  
Child And Youth Care ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Care Workers

scholarly journals Child and youth care workers: Profile, nutrition knowledge and food safety and hygiene practices

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hendrina H. Grobbelaar ◽  
Carin E. Napier
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Residential Care ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Youth Care ◽  
Nutrition Knowledge ◽  
Food Preparation ◽  
Residential Care Facilities ◽  
Child And Youth Care ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Care Workers

Background: Facilities concerned with children ‘in need of care’ should not only be considered as a last resort for a child’s care, but also as an intervention that requires more than addressing a child’s basic physical needs. The nutritional needs of children are particularly important to consider as they are a fundamental part of the care provided.Objectives: The purpose of this descriptive quantitative study was to investigate the profile, nutrition knowledge, food safety and hygiene practices of child and youth care workers (CCWs) in residential care settings in order to guide the development of a food preparation and nutrition manual.Method: The residential care settings included in this study were three that were selected randomly in Durban. CCWs (N = 40) employed permanently or part-time were included. Convenience purposive sampling of the CCWs was undertaken. A structured self-administered questionnaire, developed and tested for this purpose, was used to gather information on the profile, nutrition knowledge, food safety and hygiene practices. The data were analysed for descriptive statistics (means and frequencies).Results: The majority of CCWs were women aged 18−34 years. Very few had completed a relevant tertiary qualification. The results indicated that the respondents’ knowledge was fair on general nutrition guidelines, but there were areas of concern. Specifically, knowledge on recommended fruit and vegetable intake, correct serving sizes and importance of a variety in the diet were lacking. Some knowledge about food safety and hygiene practices was demonstrated, but not in totality.Conclusion: The overall findings supported the development of a comprehensive food preparation and nutrition manual for child residential care facilities. Agtergrond: Fasiliteite gemoeid met kinders ‘in die behoefte van sorg’ nie net beskou moet word as ’n laaste uitweg vir ’n kind se sorg nie, maar ook as ’n intervensie wat meer as net die basiese en fisiese behoeftes van kinders aanspreek. Die voedingsbehoeftes van kinders is veral belangrik om te oorweeg as ’n fundamentele element van versorging.Doelwit: Die doel van hierdie beskrywende kwantitatiewe studie was om die profiel, voeding kennis en voedsel- veiligheid en higiëne van kinder-en jeugsorgwerkers te ondersoek in residensiële sorg instellings met die doel om ’n voedsel voorbereiding en voedings handleiding te ontwikkel.Metode: Die residensiële sorg instellings het bestaan uit drie ewekansig gekiesde kinderhuise in Durban. Die studie het bestaan uit kinder-en jeugsorgwerkers (N = 40) in permanente of deeltydse poste. ’n Doelgerigte steekproef van die kinder-en jeugsorgwerkers is onderneem. ’n Gestruktureerde self-geadministreerde vraelys, ontwikkel en getoets vir hierdie doel, is gebruik om inligting oor die profiel, voeding kennis, voedselveiligheid en higiëniese praktyke van die kinder- en jeugsorgwerkers in te samel. Die data is ontleed vir beskrywende statistieke.Resultate: Die meerderheid van die kinder- en jeugsorgwerkers was vroulik, tussen die ouderdomme van 18−34 jaar. Min het ‘n toepaslike tersiêre kwalifikasie gehad. Dit blyk uit die resultate dat die respondente se algemene voeding riglyne was aanvaarbaar. Die resultate het gedui op ’n gebrek aan kennis oor die aanbevole vrugte en groente inname, korrekte porsiegroottes en die belangrikheid van ’n verskeidenheid in die dieet. Die respondente het tot ’n mindere mate kennis oor voedselveiligheid en higiëne gehad.Gevolgtrekking: Die algemene bevindinge ondersteun die ontwikkeling van ’n omvattende voedsel voorbereiding en voedings handleiding vir kinder residensiële sorg instellings.

scholarly journals Poised to advocate: The pedagogy of the lightning talk in child and youth care education

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanne Jean-Pierre ◽  
Sabrin Hassan ◽  
Asha Sturge ◽  
Kiaras Gharabaghi ◽  
Megan Lewis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Youth Care ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
First Century ◽  
Metacognitive Skills ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Child And Youth Care ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Purposive Sample

<div> <div> <div> <p>Advocacy is an integral part of child and youth care workers’ roles and a significant component of child and youth care politicized praxis and radical youth work. Drawing from the qualitative data of a mixed-methods study conducted in 2019 at a Canadian metropolitan university, this study seeks to unpack how the pedagogy of the lightning talk can foster advocacy skills to effectively and spontaneously speak out with and on behalf of children, youth, and families in everyday practice when an unforeseen systemic challenge or barrier arises. A purposive sample of 70 undergraduate students was recruited in two child and youth care courses, both of which required students to present a lightning talk. Participants completed an online questionnaire with closed-ended and open-ended questions in order to share their perspectives of the pedagogy of the lightning talk. The findings show that the lightning talk fosters twenty-first century and metacognitive skills and, most importantly, advocacy skills. </p> </div> </div> </div>

scholarly journals THE THORNY ISSUE OF STATUS DISCLOSURE TO CHILDREN LIVING WITH HIV: THE CASE OF HIV POSITIVE CHILDREN LIVING IN A CHILD AND YOUTH CARE FACILITY IN JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-68
Author(s):  
Nkosiyazi Dube ◽  
Linda Harms Smith
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Service ◽  
Youth Care ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Hiv Status ◽  
Service Workers ◽  
Child And Youth Care ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Status Disclosure ◽  
Hiv Aids

There is a dilemma regarding HIV/AIDS disclosure to children born and living with HIV/AIDS in residential settings. Since the advent and accessibility of Anti-Retroviral Therapy, most children born HIV positive live longer and have healthier lives. Some of these children find themselves in Need of Care due to abandonment, orphanhood and neglect or abuse, and are placed in alternative care such as a Child and Youth Care Centre (CYCC). Social Service Workers are then faced with this dilemma around disclosure of their HIV status, due to the complexities around the consequences of such a disclosure, and the absence of clear policies in this regard. The study explored the perceptions of social service workers regarding disclosure of HIV status to children born HIV positive living in a CYCC in Ekurhuleni, South Africa. The findings indicate that HIV status disclosure is a complex but essential process as it reinforces children’s ability to adhere to medication and dispels anxiety and suspicion within themselves around their status. Recommendations relate to community education and awareness programmes, policy and practice changes and makes suggestions for future research.

scholarly journals (YOU GOTTA HAVE) FRIENDS: CARE LEAVING, FRIENDSHIPS, AND AGENCY INTERVENTION

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Varda Mann-Feder
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Peer Relationships ◽  
Transition To Adulthood ◽  
Youth Care ◽  
Aging Out ◽  
Protective Mechanisms ◽  
Child And Youth Care ◽  
Youth In Care ◽  
Home Placement ◽  
Care System

This article is based on a presentation at FICE Austria in 2016 that reported on the findings of a qualitative study that explored the perceptions of friendships held by young people in and formerly in care. Eleven young people from the care system and three frontline child and youth care workers were interviewed with a focus on the effects of out-of-home placement on the development of peer relationships. Results suggest that there are significant obstacles to the development of age-appropriate friendships both within the care system and between youth in care and their community peers. These findings are discussed in light of the evidence that friendships are critical for healthy development and can serve as a buffer against stigma for youth who have been placed in out-of-home care. The study reported here is part of a larger program of research, the goal of which is to identify protective mechanisms or developmental assets in the transition to adulthood that could be better cultivated for youth aging out of placement.

Contributing Factors in Violent Youth Behaviour: A Study in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 571-580
Author(s):  
Tshilidzi O. Ramakulukusha ◽  
Sunday S. Babalola ◽  
Ntsieni S. Mashau
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Youth Care ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
Violent Behaviour ◽  
Child And Youth Care ◽  
Violent Youth ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Socio Economic Factors

Background: Violent behaviour in youth is regarded as a significant public health problem associated with severe physical and psychological consequences. Despite the availability of rehabilitation programmes rendered at child and youth care centres (CYCC's) in the Limpopo Province, South Africa, there is an escalation and repetition of violent behaviours among the youth due to some underlying socio-economic factors. Objective: The study sought to explore and describe the factors contributing to violent behaviours among the youth. Methods: A qualitative, explorative, and descriptive research design was used. A non-probability, purposive sampling method was used to select participants in this study. The study population consisted of youth, from the age of 15-20 years old, who were admitted to the child and youth care centres due to violent behaviours. Focus group discussions and in-depth individual interviews were used to collect data from participants. A semi-structured interview guide and focus group discussion guide were used to collect data until data saturation which occurred after interviewing 48 participants. Data were analysed following Tesch’s open code data analysis technique. Measures to ensure trustworthiness and ethical principles were adhered to. Results: Two themes emerged from the analysed data, namely, the socio-economic factors contributing to violent behaviours among the youth in CYCCs and the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes for violent youth behaviours in CYCCs. Eight sub-themes were derived from the two main themes. The home environment, the influence of delinquent peers, availability, and misuse of drugs and alcohol were most cited as the factors contributing to violent behaviours among the youth in CYCCs in the Limpopo Province. The study's findings revealed that youth had little knowledge of the impact that violent behaviour has on the victim, themselves, their families, and society. Conclusion: Rehabilitation programmes for violent behaviours among the youth will have better outcomes by involving the youth's family, especially the parents/guardians. Also, the child and youth care centres and youth violence policymakers need to emphasise family education as one of the most crucial violence prevention strategies in vulnerable youth.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document