An exploratory study on kinship care and how it benefits children and youth in Robbinsdale, Mpumalanga

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Kinship care is one of the alternative care methods available for vulnerable children and youth who have been found to be in need of care and protection according to Section 150 of the Childrens’s Act 38 of 2005. Kinship care is offered by relatives (kin) or non-relatives (fictive kin) with close relationships with young people needing of care and protection. Unlike other nonfamilial alternative care methods, such as institutionalised care, kinship care thrives on keeping children and youth within their family environment post-removal from birth parental care. Kinship care can be formal (public) or informal (private). The difference is between the government initiated and supported kinship care or whether relatives (kinship caregivers) took it upon themselves to offer it. To kinship caregivers who offer this care under the auspices of governmental child welfare agencies, it is considered formal. On the contrary, when kinship care is only discussed and offered within families without the involvement of governmental child welfare agencies, it is considered informal. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The study aimed to understand both the benefits and challenges of kinship care in the lives of young people in kinship care in the Robbinsdale community in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Such understanding is crucial to the betterment of this care in this context and for the benefit of the young people who are kinship care beneficiaries. METHODOLOGY The researcher used a qualitative research approach to conduct this study. Consequently, the study adopted an explorative research design. This helped the researcher obtain data that provided answers to the study’s purpose and objectives. The study setting was the Robbinsdale community in a rural part of the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. The study had a sample of fifteen African families in which kinship care is offered. The drawing of the study sample was done through the purposive sampling technique. Subsequently, the study had twenty-one (21) participants who were interviewed through semi-structured interviews. This interviewing strategy allowed the researcher to gather rich data from participants. Data collected thereafter was analysed through the process of thematic analysis. This analysis strategy allowed the researcher to derive significant themes and sub-themes from which study findings came. The researcher adhered to the ethical considerations. FINDINGS The data collected produced six (6) significant themes from which twenty-six (26) sub-themes emerged. The six (6) significant themes were as follows: (i) kinship care, (ii) the role of African spirituality, (iii) becoming a kinship caregiver, (iv) benefits of kinship care, (v) challenges posed by kinship care and (vi) governmental support. Though there were challenges found, there were many benefits of kinship care in the lives of children and youth in kinship care as well. The benefits included, getting a parental figure(s), knowing their background, home with protection, help from the community and getting their basic needs met. The most cited challenge by participants was the lack of support by the government towards kinship care. Other challenges included negative influences, difficult behaviour by young people in kinship care and young people’s unknown paternal cultural customs. Kinship caregivers believe that the appropriate support from the South African government towards kinship care could help mitigate these challenges which are somewhat clouding the benefits of kinship care. The findings included the role played by African spirituality in the provision of kinship care in the South African context. The practice of African spirituality proved to be another benefit for young people in kinship care. The study found that African spirituality helps children and youth in kinship care grow within culturally appropriate family constellations, allowing them to be cognisant of their personal identity and preserve their cultures. Furthermore, African spirituality helps facilitate healing and the positive upbringing of children and youth in kinship care. Notwithstanding the challenges the study found, the findings showed kinship care as a much more beneficial alternative care method in the lives of children and youth in the Robbinsdale community in Mpumalanga Province. CONCLUSION The recognition of kinship care as a legal alternative care method in South Africa is of crucial importance. This recognition would help the government provide direct support for kinship care for the benefit of vulnerable children and youth in kinship care. Currently, in the South African context, kinship care in mainly informal, which restricts the amount of help and benefits young people receive in kinship care.