An investigation into factors affecting the involvement of parents with their institutionalised mentally handicapped child

This study explores the factors that affect the involvement of parents with their mentally handicapped children after the children have been admitted to Lentegeur Care and Rehabilitation Centre in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town. The study was motivated by the concern of the researcher regarding the lack of parent-child contact and the failure of attempts by social work staff to increase parental involvement. For the purposes of the study involvement is defined as visits and telephone calls by parents to the institution and their subjective description of their emotional closeness to their children. The literature review explores the effect the presence of a mentally handicapped child may have on family functioning and the circumstances that may cause the family to consider placing the child in an institution. Other studies concerned with parent-child involvement after institutionalization are reviewed.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Social Development

Year dc:date.issued

1997

Author dc:creator

• Daniels, Joy Merlin

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Sturgeon, Shona

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9479

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/9479