Developing an evidence-based foster mother screening tool for cluster foster care in the Western Cape, South Africa

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dc.contributor.advisorJohn-Langba, Johannesen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSimula, Kelebogileen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2017-01-30T10:28:50Z
dc.date.available2017-01-30T10:28:50Z
dc.date.issued2016en_ZA
dc.description.abstractWithin the formal child welfare system in South Africa, foster care is considered the preferred form of alternative care for children removed from their biological families and who are unavailable for adoption. This reflects the belief that the family is ideal environment best suited for optimal child survival and development. Although many South African children have benefitted from court-ordered foster care in the last two decades, however ineffective screening, training and preparation of foster carers have posed challenges to meeting the needs of children in need of alternative care. Utilizing general systems and attachment theories, the purpose of this study was to explore perceptions about developing an evidence-based tool for the screening of eligible foster mothers of children in cluster-foster care in South Africa. The study employed a qualitative research approach to data collection and analysis. A semistructured interview schedule was used to explore the perspectives of 12 social workers and four foster mothers about context-specific criteria for screening foster mothers within the clusterfoster care system in South Africa. Results indicate that a reliable and valid tool for screening eligible mothers in cluster foster care settings in South Africa should include a standardized assessment of parenting skills and psychological wellbeing of potential foster mothers in addition to the normative sociodemographic background assessments. Emotional and financial support were also shown to be crucial in ensuring the retention of foster mothers within the context of high attrition rates of foster parents in South Africa. The findings of this study underscore the importance of using an evidence-based screening tool to recruit potential foster mothers in South Africa and the need to assess the psychosocial wellbeing of potential foster mothers in addition to background checks.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationSimula, K. (2016). <i>Developing an evidence-based foster mother screening tool for cluster foster care in the Western Cape, South Africa</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Social Development. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/23712en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationSimula, Kelebogile. <i>"Developing an evidence-based foster mother screening tool for cluster foster care in the Western Cape, South Africa."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Social Development, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/23712en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationSimula, K. 2016. Developing an evidence-based foster mother screening tool for cluster foster care in the Western Cape, South Africa. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Simula, Kelebogile AB - Within the formal child welfare system in South Africa, foster care is considered the preferred form of alternative care for children removed from their biological families and who are unavailable for adoption. This reflects the belief that the family is ideal environment best suited for optimal child survival and development. Although many South African children have benefitted from court-ordered foster care in the last two decades, however ineffective screening, training and preparation of foster carers have posed challenges to meeting the needs of children in need of alternative care. Utilizing general systems and attachment theories, the purpose of this study was to explore perceptions about developing an evidence-based tool for the screening of eligible foster mothers of children in cluster-foster care in South Africa. The study employed a qualitative research approach to data collection and analysis. A semistructured interview schedule was used to explore the perspectives of 12 social workers and four foster mothers about context-specific criteria for screening foster mothers within the clusterfoster care system in South Africa. Results indicate that a reliable and valid tool for screening eligible mothers in cluster foster care settings in South Africa should include a standardized assessment of parenting skills and psychological wellbeing of potential foster mothers in addition to the normative sociodemographic background assessments. Emotional and financial support were also shown to be crucial in ensuring the retention of foster mothers within the context of high attrition rates of foster parents in South Africa. The findings of this study underscore the importance of using an evidence-based screening tool to recruit potential foster mothers in South Africa and the need to assess the psychosocial wellbeing of potential foster mothers in addition to background checks. DA - 2016 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2016 T1 - Developing an evidence-based foster mother screening tool for cluster foster care in the Western Cape, South Africa TI - Developing an evidence-based foster mother screening tool for cluster foster care in the Western Cape, South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/23712 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/23712
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationSimula K. Developing an evidence-based foster mother screening tool for cluster foster care in the Western Cape, South Africa. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Social Development, 2016 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/23712en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Social Developmenten_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherClinical Social Worken_ZA
dc.titleDeveloping an evidence-based foster mother screening tool for cluster foster care in the Western Cape, South Africaen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMSocScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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