Abstract
Although South African policy and legislation make provision for cluster foster care schemes (CFCSs) as a form of alternative care that provides children with care within a family context, clear guidelines regarding their operationalisation are lacking. This study explores the elements necessary to operationalise CFCSs. The discussion is based on a qualitative research study among managers of existing CFCSs. Findings provide an insight into the nature of CFCSs, management practices, the utilisation of different network structures in the community and support to and from the community.
Highlights
The high demand to find care options for South African children in need of care and protection is highlighted by a report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF, 2014), asserting that many families in South Africa are struggling to care for their children due to “high levels of poverty, domestic violence, substance abuse, sexual abuse and neglect”
The conclusions below provide a summary of elements to be included in the operationalising of Cluster foster care schemes (CFCSs), as identified by the participants
Unique characteristics of CFCSs are that they fall within the ambit of community-based foster care and that members share resources and support one another
Summary
The high demand to find care options for South African children in need of care and protection is highlighted by a report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF, 2014), asserting that many families in South Africa are struggling to care for their children due to “high levels of poverty, domestic violence, substance abuse, sexual abuse and neglect”. Cluster foster care schemes (CFCSs) are legally acknowledged as a form of alternative care for children in need of care and protection in South Africa These schemes provide social workers with an alternative care option through which the high demand for care can be managed. This escalated to a total of 512 055 children in 2014 (Children’s Institute, 2015)
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