Evaluation of reunification programmes rendered by service providers in respect of street children with their families/households
This study is about the research that the writer conducted based on how service providers could be helped to render effective services with special reference to street children. It is believed that this study will be considered as a field based social development practice concerned with child protection and improvement of antisocial behaviour. This research was conducted in order to firstly, establish the existence of reunification programmes in the shelters that secure street children after having been picked up from the streets. Secondly, it intended to investigate in the event the programmes were available, who were actually involved during their evaluation, for example, service providers, government officials, families of street children and street children themselves. The study also intended to examine the effectiveness of those programmes. If they were available what remedy can be employed in order to improve the relationship between the reunified vulnerable street children and their families. During data collection in June 2006 concerning this study it emanated that six (6) 89% service providers did not have reunification programmes. Only one (1) 11% Government Place of Safety uses the monitoring forms to assess the progress of the street children during institutionallsationperiod. Even the said forms do not reach the objective of rehabilitating the children because children abscond before the end of the monitoring exercise. And without the direction file of the child's home, it is hard to track down the child and get response from the family about the progress of the child. In terms of Sec 69(i) of Social Welfare White Paper 1997 the State had planned to develop programmes concerning provision of safe environment and taking care of homeless young adults and those surviving on the streets. But these goals have not yet been achieved. The service providers even confessed that they lacked skills on how to deal with problematic children other than providing safety and security until the child decides to reunify with his or her family. The study was conducted in Durban, Empangeni, Richards Bay, Eshowe, Nqutu, Nkandla and Newcastle in the KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. (Due to research confidentiality ethical reasons, the real names of institutions visited will not be revealed). Lastly, the researcher prepared standardised Reunification Program Manuals (hereinafter called Behaviour Modification Treatment Model Manual) and Participation Action Research Manuals and issued them to the service providers for future use.
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