Engagement tactics with foster parents: Experiences of resource workers

Abstract

Resource workers are child welfare workers who work closely with foster parents following placement of a child placed in care. One of the challenges they experience is reluctance to their involvement. Resource workers from a large metropolitan area were asked: “What do you do when foster parents are reluctant about your involvement?” Responses to this question were analyzed with multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis. Nine concepts resulted, including: Recognize Problems, Build Trust, Go the Extra, Be Positive, Broaden their Network, Find Commonalities, Set Limits, Understand Them, and Reinforce Accountability. These concepts were compared and contrasted with the available literature.

The roles of social workers and community volunteers in providing services to foster care children living with HIV in South Africa

“…These findings demonstrate the impact of a meso-system as argued in Bronfenbrenner (1979) ecological systems theory. This layer connects the various structures of the child's microsystem, in the context of this review, the social workers and community volunteers.…”

“…The findings discussed above are consistent with the study according to Yendork (2020) which provided that since most parents of orphans died of AIDS, the community stigmatises and discriminates against them, with various accusations which perpetuate discrimination against these children. However, these findings may affect the children's development as argued by Bronfenbrenner (1979), who emphasised on the significance of people's interactions with their environments. According to the model, such interactions would have the greatest impact on human development.…”

“…Similarly, this is backed by Bronfenbrenner's ecological model, which argued that an individual does not exist in isolation but forms part of a field made up of a number of different systems like a family, community, NGOs, schools, businesses, governments departments, religious system, etc. (Bronfenbrenner, 1979). Simply put, when social workers involve community volunteers with an aim of strengthening support and services to these children, they are appraising open system according to ecological systems theory.…”

“…This review study is anchored on Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory. The theory explains how a child's environment affects their growth and development (Bronfenbrenner, 1979). Ecological systems theory is a framework that creates a platform for investigating organisations or groups that collaborate to produce results of mutual interest.…”

“…The ecological approach implies that every person lives in an environment that can affect their outcome or circumstance. Further, the assumption of this theory implies that an individual does not exist in isolation but forms part of a field made up of a number of different systems like a family, community, NGOs, schools, businesses, governments departments, religious system etc (Bronfenbrenner, 1979). All these ecological systems play fundamental roles in the development of orphaned children, particularly those living with HIV.…”