"What does that mean?" Objects of significance in residential programmes for young persons in South Africa

• Main Author: Molepo, Phineas Lesiba
• Other Authors: Garfat, T.F. (Dr.)
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: Residential care programme; Awareness; Well-being; Developmental work; Therapeutic work; Transition; Possessions; Significance; Transitional objects; Young persons; Child and youth care worker; 362.730968; Institutional care > South Africa; Children > Institutional care > South Africa; Custody of children > South Africa; Social work with children > South Africa; Social work with youth > South Africa; Child care services > South Africa; Transitional objects (Psychology) > South Africa; Group homes for children > South Africa; Group homes for youth > South Africa; Child care workers > South Africa
• Online Access: Molepo, Phineas Lesiba (2009) "What does that mean?" Objects of significance in residential programmes for young persons in South Africa, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/1150>; http://hdl.handle.net/10500/1150

Many young persons live under difficult circumstances. Factors including HIV/AIDS pandemic, exacerbate the need to place young persons into alternative placements. The new and the unknown can be frightening but carrying a faithful transitional object establishes therapeutic bridge between the old and known and the new and unknown. This study sought to explore South African child and youth care workers' awareness of young persons' objects of significance in residential care settings. The rational was that with greater awareness, important objects may become a more useful option for the promotion of young persons' well-being. The research confirmed that South African child and youth care workers are aware of the existence and importance of significant objects. It further revealed that young persons possess different objects of significance to which workers need to pay careful attention. === Research Institute for Theology and Religion === M.Tech. (Child and Youth Care)