An exploration of the exit plans of the beneficiaries of the foster care grant in Soweto.
Date
2014-07-07
Authors
Rembuluwani, Rendani
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Abstract
Most social assistance programmes have exit strategies in place which require beneficiaries to
end their participation in the programme either on an involuntary or voluntary basis. This can
occur when the socioeconomic circumstances of the recipients have improved so they
accomplish programme objectives and no longer need programme benefits (World Bank,
2000). Despite this ideal of being able to exit the grant system it seems that the withdrawal of
the foster care grant can erode quality of life, particularly in circumstances where the foster
parents do not have exit plans put in place. The aim of the study was to explore the exit plans
of the recipients of the foster care grant in Soweto and the challenges they face in coming up
with these plans. The study adopted a qualitative approach and it was exploratory in nature.
Ten foster parents and four key informants from the Department of Social Development were
selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using two separate semi-structured
interview schedules for participants and key informants. The data gathered was then analysed
using thematic content analysis. The results of the study revealed that there was little
knowledge and understanding about the foster care grant and what it seeks to do. The study
also revealed that there were no exit plans put in place by foster parents. These results of the
study found that the participants had very little knowledge of what an exit strategy was and
they did not have set exit plans to exit the grant. Other findings indicated that there was no
support for participants from their social workers in terms of the sharing of information and
the development of exit plans. This study will thus contribute to the discourse on social
assistance in general and foster care grants in particular. Furthermore, it will help to sensitise
social workers on the need for exit plans for the recipients of foster grants.
Description
Keywords
Foster care, Foster care grant, Recipients, Exit strategies, Poverty