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269 submissions
| # Sort descending | Operations | Status | Status | Title | Lastname | Firstname | Institution | Title of Presentatation | Theme Selection | Abstract | SID | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 187 | Accepted | Accepted | Mr. | Lupoli | Marco | hesse583@hotmail.com | Advances | Engaging interepistemic solidarity to decolonise education. The case study of Catedra Kaapora of the Federal University of Sao Paulo (Brasil). | THEME 4: Social Work Education, Transdisciplinarity and Curriculum Development | For decades, international social work scholars have highlighted the need to decolonise social work education and practice. The field remains heavily reliant on Eurocentric paradigms that do not reflect the complexity of local contexts or the diversity of service users’ experiences. A core element of decolonising education involves challenging singular worldviews and embracing diverse ways of knowing. Yet, while the literature advocating for decolonisation in social work education is extensive, practical models of interdisciplinary and decolonising education remain limited and are often shaped by disconnected learning approaches. This research is a case study of Cátedra Kaapora, an educational initiative developed at the Federal University of São Paulo in Brazil. Created by a collective of academics from various disciplines, Cátedra Kaapora offers lectures, workshops, collaborative research, and artistic activities led by Indigenous, Afro-Brazilian, and other marginalised knowledge holders. The project places interdisciplinary learning and decolonising practice at the centre of its work and offers valuable insights for social work educators, practitioners, and institutions seeking to take action toward more inclusive and just education. This study addresses both ethical and analytical challenges in social work education. It examines the experiences of those involved in shaping Cátedra Kaapora, exploring how disciplines collaborate, how power is negotiated, and how care and collective responsibility are sustained in decolonising work. These insights are relevant not only in Brazil but across global contexts where social work education is still shaped by dominant Western traditions. As I argue in this research, engaging with decolonisation through an approach that values different ways of knowing is complex and sometimes messy. But this complexity must not lead to inaction. Small, intentional changes are better than no change at all. Cátedra Kaapora reminds us that meaningful transformation is possible, even when the path is difficult. |
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| 188 | Accepted | Accepted | Dr. | Hugo | Shirley nozipo | shirley.hugo@ecdsd.gov.za | Eastern cape department of social development | Experiences of young black widows during mourning process in Mangaung Metro, Free State | THEME 3: Policy and Advocacy for Peace building, Environmental and Social Justice | Experiences of young Black widows during the mourning process in Mangaung Metro, Free State The study explored the experiences that cause vulnerability among widows and effects of widowhood in dealing with the loss of a husband in Mangaung Metro, Free State Province of South Africa. The objectives of the study were to explore and describe experiences and challenges of black young widows; to explore and describe the customary practices around widowhood; and to describe an empowerment process facilitated with black young widows. The study was guided by Critical Social Theory as a theoretical framework and employed a Participatory Action Research design. A qualitative approach was employed following a non-probability sampling method technique. All the widows from Mangaung were targeted for the study. Purposive sampling was utilised to select 16 widows from the database of the Free State Department of Social Development and the snowball sampling was utilised to reach the desired number. The study had a sample of 16 widows (8 rural & 8 urban) who met the set criteria. The criteria was that widows had to be between 18 and 40 years; from Mangaung and widowed for a minimum of 6 months. In order to protect the participants, ethical considerations were observed. Focus groups, interviews and workshops were used to collect data. All recorded data was transcribed. Thematic analysis was followed for data analysis with assistance of a data technician. The main themes found were, effects of widowhood on dealing with the loss of a husband; challenges and experiences that cause vulnerability among widows; Strategies were then developed to deal with issues that made widows vulnerable. It was concluded that widows are not against mourning rituals but how they are implemented affecting their lives negatively. It is recommended that a research study be conducted on the role of women in the implementation of widowhood rituals. Key Words: Empowerment, widowhood, mourning rituals and widows |
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| 189 | Pending Review | Pending Review | Ms. | Shale | Palesa | shalep66@gmail.com | Social development | South South, south-north knowledge exchange in eco social services. | THEME 7: International and Cross-Cultural Collaborations in Green Social Work | 1193 | ||
| 190 | Accepted | Accepted | Ms. | Zondi | Nomusa priscilla | msazondi29@yahoo.com | University of south africa | Young widowed Zulu individuals experiences of cultural expectations of widowhood within Zulu society | THEME 5: Feminist Perspectives and Environmental Justice | This study explores the cultural expectations placed on young widows and widowers within Zulu society, with a focus on their emotional and social experiences during mourning. Motivated by personal experience and professional social work practice, the researcher aimed to understand how traditional mourning customs affect the well-being of young individuals who have lost their spouses. A qualitative research approach was employed, using purposive and snowball sampling to select participants aged 21 to 40 from the uMgungundlovu District in KwaZulu-Natal. Findings reveal that young widows, in particular, face significant pressure to comply with strict cultural practices, including wearing black clothing for twelve months, avoiding social gatherings, and maintaining a posture of social withdrawal. These expectations often lead to isolation, identity struggles, and emotional distress. Participants reported experiencing intense grief, trauma, financial hardship, and stigmatization. Widows also faced heightened vulnerability, including being victims of inheritance-related exploitation. Despite these challenges, support from family, friends, spirituality, and faith emerged as important coping mechanisms. Participants expressed a strong need for professional psychosocial support, including grief counselling, parenting resources, and peer support systems. The study concludes that young widows and widowers require holistic and culturally sensitive interventions. Recommendations include training counsellors on Zulu mourning customs, launching community awareness campaigns, providing economic support, and creating peer support groups. These interventions aim to bridge the gap between cultural expectations and personal needs, ultimately promoting healing, empowerment, and social reintegration for young Zulu widows and widowers. |
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| 191 | Accepted | Accepted | Ms. | Lentswe | Kelebogile fancy | fancylentswe@gmail.com | North west university | School dropout among teenage girls in Greater Taung Municipality: Social Work perspective | THEME 2: Social Work and the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) | The study focused on school dropout among teenage girls. Particular attention was given to examining and describing the state of school dropout among teenage girls in secondary schools; identifying the causes and effects of school dropout; examining ways that teenage girls could be assisted to curb the problem of dropout; and suggesting possible social work intervention strategies that could curb school dropout. The study is aligned to and resonates with the theme of Social Work and the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); in reference to SDG Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all as well as SDG Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. A qualitative research approach was utilised where unstructured in-depth interviews were conducted and focus groups were held. Participants included teenage girls attending school, teenage girls who have already dropped out of school, life orientation teachers, and social workers. In consideration of the findings of the study, which amongst were, lack of school social workers, teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, retention of grades and bullying as cause of school dropout relevant recommendations were made. Thus, the study recommended the improvement of the quality of education not only on teenage girls but also on teenage boys in achieving a more humane world. The study further align with the idea that the quality education may be achieved through research done not only based on teenage girls but teenage boys, as psychosocial problems also affect them. That quality education may be achieved when Social Workers are employed permanently in schools to address psychosocial problems leading to school dropout. The study recommended that professionals should reach out to teenage girls who have already dropped out of school and encourage re-entry, or facilitate participation in other school foundations. | 1248 | |
| 192 | Accepted | Accepted | Dr. | Thomas | Kayte | indigoeyes@ymail.com | Baylor university | Developing Collective Mindsets in A Hyper-Individualistic Culture | THEME 4: Social Work Education, Transdisciplinarity and Curriculum Development | Social Work in the United States began as a profession committed to serving the needs of the community, particularly those who were poor or marginalized, often in collective ways. However, over time social work began to align with the individualistic views of broader society. There are currently strong debates as to whether the profession should return to focusing on collective action and community work, or whether it should continue to prioritize individual empowerment, and schools of social work are often criticized for failing to equip students with skills for community organizing, macro practice, and understanding the broader implications of systemic injustices. Guided by NASW Code of Ethics 6.01 (Social Welfare) and IFSW Ethical Principle 3.5 (Building Solidarity) and grounded in the wisdom of Paulo Freire, bell hooks, and Christopher Emdin, this presentation will highlight the dynamics of teaching a collective focus in US college classrooms. Attendees will gain insights into both institutional and individual challenges faced and strategies used to effectively build collective mindsets despite these barriers. Additionally, social workers will be able to compare and contrast their own strategies and classroom settings while building awareness of international teaching experiences. |
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| 193 | Rejected | Rejected | Ms. | Sophazi | Buyisiwe | buyisiwe.sophazi@kzndsd.gov.za | Kwazulu-natal department of social development | Voices of Children within the Province of KwaZulu-Natal | THEME 3: Policy and Advocacy for Peace building, Environmental and Social Justice | Attached as Annexure | 1268 | |
| 194 | Accepted | Accepted | Dr. | Chiba | Jenita | jenita.chiba@up.ac.za | University of pretoria | Student Perceptions and Engagement with AI Role Play as an Experiential Learning Tool in Social Work Education | THEME 6: Main-streaming Digital and Assessment Tools in Social Work Practice | Social work, as a profession and academic discipline, is dedicated to advancing social change, enhancing cohesion, and empowering individuals, families, and communities (IFSW, 2014). Essential to social work training is experiential learning, which involves supervised in-service training. At the University of Pretoria, Master's in Social Work (MSW) Play Therapy (Play-based intervention) students are required to complete a supervised practical with child clients. Before this, in the class, students are provided opportunities to engage in role-plays, to integrate theory with practice. The recent introduction of ClickUP Ultra's AI Conversations feature offered a novel experiential learning opportunity for the 2025 students. This presentation explores student perceptions and engagement with AI role-play as a preparatory tool, its effectiveness in helping them transition from theoretical knowledge to practical application before their work with child clients. This exploration aims to understand AI's potential in enhancing the MSW social work education and readiness for practice. | 1271 | |
| 195 | Accepted | Accepted | Mr. | Ntshaba | Bonginkosi zibula | bonginkosi.ntshaba@gmail.com | Department of social development | The impact of climate-related disasters on marginalized and vulnerable communities | THEME 1: Green Social Work and Climate Resilience: Supporting Vulnerable Communities in the Face of Environmental Crises | Introduction Marginalised and vulnerable people are hardest-hit by environmental disasters and severe weather such as floods, droughts, tornadoes. Formal systems, including municipal disaster management units, government social services, and formal humanitarian aid organisations, often neglect vulnerable communities. This study proposes a multi-layered, community-centered catastrophe governance system—characterised by local risk mapping, indigenous early-warning practices, community-based disaster response teams, and embedded social services—integrating social work, participatory planning, and cultural resilience. The study examines the multifaceted nature of disasters in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), especially in poor communities with low adaptive capacity. Structural disparities, catastrophe preparedness and response gaps make marginalised populations vulnerable. Methods We used grounded theory to analyse how climate shocks and overlapping vulnerabilities like poverty, gender, disability, and rurality increase hazard exposure and vulnerability. We conducted qualitative interviews with 25 community members and local leaders in two rural KZN communities—Ntabamhlophe and Loskop under Umtshezi local municipality, which have been hit by floods between 2019 and 2024. This provided empirical data. Findings Many households suffered trauma in the form of constant relocation, health decline, and loss of livelihoods. Many communities face similar climate emergency environmental health disparities, with place-based marginalisation and risk exposure. Marginalised people's poor disaster preparation increases social isolation, and also eroded any prevention, mitigation, coping or transformative measures. People lose the ability to prevent shocks or avoid further vulnerability once disaster strikes because it has happened so much and so frequently. People with disabilities, like other vulnerable groups, are often disproportionately excluded from planning and response efforts. Informal social networks, such as burial societies, savings groups, church associations, and traditional councils, and indigenous coping methods, such as communal rebuilding, rainwater harvesting, and ancestral rituals, prevent being systematically overlooked by mainstream planning systems, but not long-term support. Conclusion For climate justice, policymakers and practitioners should rethink static and one-size-fits-all vulnerability classifications, and adopt dynamic, context-specific resilience-building measures such as livelihood diversification, accessible infrastructure, and gender-responsive planning. |
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| 196 | Pending Review | Pending Review | Dr. | Mashamba | Magala erick | magala.mashamba@univen.ac.za | University of venda | Working with children in conflict with the law | THEME 2: Social Work and the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) | Working with children in conflict with the law is a daunting task that can be best dealt with through collaborative efforts. Despite intervention through diversion programmes, children in conflict with the law still reoffend. The current prescripts are quiet about parental involvement when they are rehabilitated through diversion programmes. Some programmes are implemented in a disjointed manner owing to scarcity of resources. The study was an exploratory-descriptive-contextual and phenomenological study that is steeped in qualitative research approach. Data collection was done through semi-structured, face to face interviews. The target population was parents of children in conflict with the law who undergone diversion programmes in the department of social development. Prior to actual data collection, a pilot testing was conducted with two participants to determine validity and reliability of the data collection instrument. The sampling method applied is purposive sampling and the sample size was determined through the principle of data saturation. Data was analysed using thematic analysis which is very useful in qualitative research. In order to ensure adherence to ethical protocols, the following were applied throughout the study, informed consent, confidentiality, anonymity, beneficence, management of information and debriefing. The main findings of the study suggest that parental involvement is crucial in the implementation of diversion programmes and that supervision and speciality in probation service are major concerns as well as lack of resources and training of probation officers. It is strongly recommended that speciality in probation services should be implemented for effective implementation of diversion programmes. Programmes aimed at capacitating and empowering parents should be developed. This topic needs to be further researched. Keywords: Parents, implementation, diversion programme, social work, perspective, social development, probation officer. |
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| 197 | Accepted | Accepted | Ms. | Jordaan | Leanne | leanne.jordaan@up.ac.za | University of pretoria | Raised by the Herd: Insights from African Elephants for the Support and Continuing Professional Development of Newly Qualified Social Workers in South Africa | THEME 4: Social Work Education, Transdisciplinarity and Curriculum Development | Newly qualified social workers (NQSWs) in South Africa face numerous challenges when transitioning into the workforce. Although graduates complete a four-year generic Bachelor of Social Work degree, expectations are that they will be work-ready, especially for specialist areas of practice. This is unrealistic, often leaving them feeling underprepared and unsupported. This experience reflects global concerns, where NQSWs frequently lack adequate supervision, mentorship, and structured professional development during the transitional phase on entering the workplace. The researchers adopted a cross-sectional survey to explore the post-qualification support and development needs of South African NQSWs operationalised through Qualtricsxm. Using non-probability sampling, 39 NQSWs from diverse practice settings completed the questionnaire designed for the South African context. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Findings reveal critical gaps in early career support, with NQSWs highlighting the need for structured induction programmes, mentorship, supervision, and specialist training opportunities. These elements are vital for improving job satisfaction, professional confidence, and enhanced work retention. The study draws on the metaphor of African elephant calves, raised within cooperative, nurturing herds, to emphasise the value of collective care and extended support systems for emerging professionals. As calves thrive through shared responsibility and protection, NQSWs benefit from collaborative, multi-stakeholder environments that foster ongoing growth and resilience. Recommendations include the development of a responsive, collaborative framework for the support and continuing professional development of NQSWs, tailored to the realities of South Africa and other lower- to middle-income countries. This includes clearer guidance on post-qualification pathways, strengthened inter-organisational collaboration, and improved access to training and supervision. The presentation aims to contribute to discussions on building responsive post-graduate social work curricula, focusing on the needs of NQSWs, by offering evidence-based strategies that better equip graduates for practice. | 1280 | |
| 198 | Accepted | Accepted | Dr. | Thomas | Kayte | kayte_thomas1@baylor.edu | Baylor university | Academics4Gaza: Training Global Academics to Tutor Students Under Siege | THEME 3: Policy and Advocacy for Peace building, Environmental and Social Justice | To combat the targeted epistemicide intentionally created with the ongoing genocide in Gaza, a network of international tutors stepped in to support displaced university students. Academics4Gaza is an initiative which exists to resist the erasure of Palestinian academics and to refuse to allow their knowledge and dreams to be destroyed. This presentation will discuss the process of creating a unique training program designed to acclimate a group of global academics from a variety of countries and disciplines to the role of education in Palestinian culture. Through a culturally attuned, liberatory frame with historical and trauma aware lens, this training program prepares global tutors to teach and connect in situations unlike any other classroom in existence. Research shows that maintaining educational trajectories during times of crisis, war, and forced displacement is a key protective factor in later outcomes. As both social workers and academics, a radical reimagining of the university setting to include a transnational, cross-cultural, digital space that is responsive to unbearable conditions is more than solidarity and resistance to oppression – it is a refusal to allow a world to exist where learning is weaponized, and a promise to co-create a legacy that persists beyond the boundaries of human devastation. Indeed, this experience has shaped both the tutors and students in profound and lasting ways. Attendees will gain insight into necessary skills to provide educational and relational exchange under these conditions, techniques used to scaffold the tutors’ vicarious trauma experiences with psychosocial support, and key takeaways for the future of academic ventures as genuine beacons of hopeful peacekeeping initiatives. |
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| 199 | Accepted | Accepted | Ms. | Mbuyisa | Makgotso | MAKGOTSO10@GMAIL.COM | Free state department of social development | Policy and Advocacy for Peace building , Environmental and Social Justice | THEME 3: Policy and Advocacy for Peace building, Environmental and Social Justice | This paper responds to the ASASWEI 2025 theme by examining how South African social workers contribute to social and environmental justice, peacebuilding, and sustainable development through innovative, evidence-based practice. Based on participatory action research in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng after the 2021 civil unrest, the study explores how social workers facilitated trauma-informed dialogues, youth mentorship, and community-building in marginalised areas. Combining fieldwork with reflective practitioner narratives, the research identifies local strategies that connect healing with policy influence. Key outcomes include the formation of informal peace structures, improved community trust, and increased civic participation. The findings show that when social workers are equipped with policy knowledge, cultural competence, and the ability to work across sectors, they can drive sustainable, community-led development. The paper positions social work as more than a service profession—it highlights its potential as a force for structural transformation. By focusing on practice-based innovations like post-unrest psychosocial recovery, mentorship, and inclusive dialogue, it shows how such interventions can inform national policy frameworks. These efforts support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and respond directly to the conference’s call for transformative teaching, research, and advocacy. Ultimately, the study argues that social workers can bridge grassroots knowledge with policy processes in settings shaped by inequality, spatial injustice, and historical trauma. Their role in institutionalising local peace committees, promoting inclusive governance, and contributing to violence prevention underscores their importance in reimagining a just and sustainable future. |
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| 200 | Accepted | Accepted | Mr. | Malope | S'busiso eddy | semalope@gmail.com | National department of social development | GENDER BASED VIOLENCE COMMAND CENTRE RESPONSE - TO MAINSTREAMING DIGITAL AND ASSESSMENT TOOLS IN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE | THEME 6: Main-streaming Digital and Assessment Tools in Social Work Practice | GENDER BASED VIOLENCE COMMAND CENTRE RESPONSE - TO MAINSTREAMING DIGITAL AND ASSESSMENT TOOLS IN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE Abstract 1. INTRODUCTION As the landscape of social work continues to evolve in response to technological advancement, the integration of digital tools into traditional practice has become increasingly essential. The Gender-Based Violence Command Centre (GBVCC), a flagship initiative of the Government South Africa, serves as a critical case study for exploring the role of digital innovation in crisis intervention and social service delivery. This paper examines how the GBVCC exemplifies the potential of mainstreamed digital tools such as real-time helplines, telephone, SMS-based, reporting, USSDs, geolocation tracking, and data-driven assessment dashboards meant to enhance response efficiency, linkage to other service providers such as SAPS, CSOs being GBV Shelters and client outcomes in cases of gender-based violence. Data in terms of statistics generated by the GBVCC since inception as of 2013 – 2025 will be shared. 2. FOCUS AREAS FOR THE PAPER Focusing on six key dimensions of which are effectiveness, inclusivity, capacity, quality assurance, data generation and ethics—the paper to be presented by the VEP Director responsible for Gender Based Violence Command Centre evaluates the impact of digital integration on service delivery to diverse and vulnerable groups such a women, children and persons with disabilities. It further highlights innovative digital interventions that facilitate access for marginalized groups, including victims and survivors in rural or digitally underserved communities. The paper also addresses the critical importance of digital literacy and capacity building among social workers, underscoring the need for structured training and ongoing professional development to bridge digital divides within the profession facilitated by Quality Assurance team. Ethical challenges such as data privacy, informed consent, confidentiality and technology-induced barriers are explored to critically assess the implications of digital transformation in the social work field. 3. CONCLUSION By situating the GBVCC within a broader discourse on digital social work, this paper proposes a framework for quality assurance grounded, inclusive, and scalable integration of digital and social work service, aimed at strengthening both individual practitioner capacity and systemic responsiveness to gender-based violence and femicide. |
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| 201 | Accepted | Accepted | Dr. | Dhludhlu | Sandile | Dhludsl@unisa.ac.za | University of south afric | Fostering teenagers: Exploring the challenges and coping strategies of foster parents in Mogale City | THEME 3: Policy and Advocacy for Peace building, Environmental and Social Justice | Abstract In South Africa, foster care serves as one of the options for providing care and protection to children within their family of origin. However, this arrangement often presents challenges for foster parents, who may experience various difficulties in raising their teenage foster children. The primary goal of this study was to explore the challenges and coping strategies of foster parents raising teenage foster children. This qualitative study explored, described, and contextualised the challenges that are faced by foster parents raising teenage foster children. The study’s findings revealed that teenage foster children’s foster parents face various challenges in raising them. The challenges include teenage foster children back chatting their parents, coming home late at night, abusing substances, and demanding expensive clothes. However, foster parents reported various copying strategies that they adopted to survive the challenges that they faced. The study recommends that teenage foster children’s foster parents must receive ongoing support to enhance their coping strategies. The support may include the development of support groups, ongoing foster care supervision, and counselling for foster parents. The study provides empirical evidence that can influence social welfare policies, ensuring adequate financial, emotional, and psychological support for foster families. Keywords: foster parents, teenage foster children, experiences, challenges, coping strategies, raising |
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| 202 | Accepted | Accepted | Ms. | Jacobs | Danyschka | danyschka@sun.ac.za | Stellenbosch university | The Forgotten Link in Addiction Recovery: Service Users’ Experiences of Accessibility and Availability of Aftercare Services in the Western Cape | THEME 2: Social Work and the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) | BACKGROUND: Substance abuse has reached epidemic proportions globally, with the World Health Organization (2021) reporting 275 million users in 2021, 60 million of whom reside in Africa. In South Africa, although national data is outdated, the Central Drug Authority (2019) estimated that up to 15% of the population misuse substances. In the Western Cape, substance use is linked to rising crime, unemployment, family dysfunction, and the spread of communicable diseases (Isobell et al., 2018). While rehabilitation centres offer coping strategies within structured environments, these often prove insufficient once individuals return to communities with prevalent drug trade, socio-economic instability, and easy access to substances (Addiction Centre, 2019). Although research indicates that continued engagement in aftercare enhances long-term recovery outcomes, aftercare remains underfunded and under prioritised in South Africa. Most social work resources are focused on prevention and early intervention (Bhana, 2007), while those in recovery face structural, systemic, and attitudinal barriers to accessing continued care (Myers et al., 2014). This study explores the availability and accessibility of aftercare services in local communities in the Western Cape. METHODS: A qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive design was used. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with individuals in recovery who had previously accessed formal rehabilitation services and were expected to have knowledge of, or experience with, aftercare in their communities. Participants were purposively selected. RESULTS: Aftercare services were identified as a severely neglected component within the continuum of substance abuse care. Rehabilitation centres often lacked the capacity to deliver follow-up support, leaving most aftercare services inaccessible. Participants described challenges including limited programme availability, inadequate funding, and lack of information. CONCLUSION: Aftercare services are a critical yet overlooked part of substance abuse recovery. Increased investment, accessibility, and awareness are essential to support sustainable recovery. Recommendations on improving local aftercare provision will be discussed further. |
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| 203 | Accepted | Pending Review | Mr. | Mzimela | Patrick mzokhona | mzomzimzimela@gmail.com | Greenfields cycc | CHILD AND YOUTH CARE WORKERS’ SUPPORT OF GRANDPARENTS RAISING ORPHANED GRANDCHILDREN | THEME 1: Green Social Work and Climate Resilience: Supporting Vulnerable Communities in the Face of Environmental Crises | An increasing number of grandparents in South Africa are raising their orphaned grandchildren. Many, particularly those that live in rural areas, lack the resources required to care for both their grandchildren and themselves. While support is available at various ecological levels, this is often inadequate, especially in rural communities. In the South African context, the emerging profession of child and youth care work can close the gaps in caregiving, and child and youth care workers (CYCWs) can offer extensive support to grandparents. The main aim of the study was thus to examine how CYCWs in rural communities, support grandparents who raise orphaned grandchildren This was a desktop based study that employed primary and secondary sources (international and domestic laws, court judgments, and research in the social sciences and law). A number of challenges faced by grandparents who are raising orphaned children and discussed the provision of social services by CYCWs who work with vulnerable families. These challenges are financial constraints; their own and their grandchildren’s health problems; mental stress; social isolation; family issues; housing issues, legal challenges and educational concerns. While international and domestic law requires the state to provide social services to the elderly, when older persons take on a caring role for orphaned grandchildren, a greater duty rests on the state to step up. The services currently provided to the elderly by social workers in South Africa are inadequate for this task. The statutory regulation of CYCWs and the role they play in children’s lives, which could be extended to grandparent caregivers with further training. “Child and Youth Care Practice is based on helping people live their life differently as they are living it. The primary task of CYCWs is to work in the life space of the child, considering his or her developmental requirements, and how that relates to his or her family and caregivers. |
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| 204 | Accepted | Accepted | Ms. | Ratshidi-kawadza | Katlego | Katlego.Ratshidikawadza@nwu.ac.za | North west university | exploring the evidence on community-based interventions addressing child abuse and neglect in low-and middle-income countries: a scoping review | THEME 2: Social Work and the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) | Child abuse and neglect continue to pose significant public health and social challenges, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where structural and systemic obstacles frequently impede effective prevention and intervention efforts. Community-based interventions have emerged as vital approaches to mitigate the incidence and impact of child maltreatment by valuing local resources and culturally appropriate strategies. However, there is dearth of synthesized evidence on the scope and nature of such interventions in LMIC settings. This scoping review aimed to map the extent of evidence on community-based interventions addressing child abuse and neglect in LMICs. This scoping review was guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework. A comprehensive search was undertaken across eight databases: PsycINFO, African-Wide Information, MEDLINE, CINAHL via EBSCOhost, PubMed, JSTOR, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect. Studies published between 2015 and 2025 were included. The PICO framework informed eligibility criteria, while screening and reporting followed the PRISMA guidelines with an appraisal checklist applied during full-text review. A total of 641 articles were identified by our search criteria for title screening. Preliminary findings from 50 full-text studies reveal a growing evidence base on community-based interventions addressing child abuse and neglect in LMCs. Most interventions focus on parenting support, school-based violence prevention, and community engagement, with the use of digital and hybrid models. Programs such as Parenting for Lifelong Health, the Nurturing Care Group in Ghana, and SASA! in Uganda demonstrated promising reductions in child abuse. Interventions integrated into public health or education systems, or implemented through faith-based networks, demonstrated greater sustainability and relevance. Based on preliminary findings, there remains a need for policies to integrate child protection interventions into existing service platforms using culturally adapted approaches, supported by intersectoral collaboration, stable funding, active community involvement, and robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to guide implementation and scale-up. |
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| 205 | Accepted | Accepted | Ms. | Sebaka | Kelebogile | socialworker@boi.org | North west university | Social work child intervention processes: factors that contribute towards effective family reunification | THEME 2: Social Work and the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) | Family reunification remains a critical component of effective child protection practice. In South Africa, however, the process is frequently hindered by systemic challenges, including high caseloads, resource constraints, and the absence of standardised guidelines. These factors contribute to inconsistent intervention practices and prolonged placements in alternative care. This study explores the factors within statutory social work interventions that facilitate or impede successful reunification, drawing on the experiences of practitioners working within the child protection system. A qualitative research design was adopted, using a collective case study approach. Five social workers from three Child Protection Organisations (CPOs) in Tshwane, Gauteng Province, participated. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, in which each participant described two cases: one that resulted in successful reunification within two years, and one where reunification was delayed. Data were analysed using Creswell’s data analysis spiral. Findings highlight that early initiation of reunification planning, active parental involvement, strong relationships between social workers and families, and support from extended family and community resources contribute positively to reunification outcomes. Conversely, challenges such as limited organisational resources, lack of parental cooperation, and the absence of standardised reunification protocols emerged as key barriers. The study recommends developing and implementing clear, standardised reunification protocols and strengthening systemic support through increased resources, inter-agency collaboration, and manageable caseloads. Incorporating trauma-informed interventions and structured aftercare is essential for long-term family stability. These findings contribute to reunification knowledge and have implications for social work practice, policy formulation, and future research aimed at enhancing the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of reunification services within South Africa’s child protection system. The study concludes that effective reunification requires not only procedural reforms but also a coordinated, well-resourced approach. Ensuring timely, safe, and sustainable returns of children to their families depends on early intervention, parental involvement, and consistent support across the child protection continuum. |
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| 206 | Pending Review | Pending Review | Dr. | Ugiagbe | Ijeoma | ijeoma.ugiagbe@uniben.edu | University of benin | Environmental sustainability, Social Justice and Policy Development Thrusts: Exploring the impacts of Climate Change on Vulnerable members of Edo State, Nigeria | THEME 1: Green Social Work and Climate Resilience: Supporting Vulnerable Communities in the Face of Environmental Crises | Environmental sustainability, Social Justice and Policy Development Thrusts: Exploring the impacts of Climate Change on Vulnerable members of Edo State, Nigeria By Ijeoma Ugiagbe, PhD Department of Public Administration Faculty of Social Sciences University of Benin Benin City Edo State, Nigeria Email: Ijeoma.ugiagbe@uniben.edu Mobile: +2348075366999 Abstract All over the world, the attainment of environmental protection and sustainability is on the front burner of government development thrusts. This is because the adverse effect of environmental degradation and global warming are disproportionately borne by the vulnerable people and communities. This paper espoused the impact of climate change on the vulnerable members of Edo State, Nigeria such as the physically challenged, the aged, woman and children who bear the brunt of the hazards of climate change. The work also discussed how climate change hurts vulnerable communities especially in rural and sub urban areas of the study area. The work adopted the content analysis of existing secondary data whereby major themes and data were isolated and discussed. Analysis of data and themes established that vulnerable people and communities bear the brunt and are the final destination of its harsh realities like floods, draught, erosion and other adverse effects in addition to the failure and non-challant of government to act decisively to deal with the threat and the aftermath of natural disasters occasioned by climate change. The paper contended that vulnerable people in the study area are at the receiving end of climate change. Hence the paper proffered some feasible panacea to attain social justice and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on the vulnerable people and communities in Nigeria, Keywords: Climate change, Communities, Government responses, Intervention, Sustainable development policy thrusts, Vulnerable groups |
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