The Need to Strengthen the Link Between Formal and Informal Community Caregiving for Aids Orphans
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Date
2006-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The informal community support system has been significantly contributing to the care
provisions of vulnerable members of many communities. Its contribution however has not
been well recognized. Creating and/or strengthening the link between the formal and informal
community support systems could give a new fertile ground in the delivery of services for
AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children. Creating the link and strengthening it would
help to properly utilize resources including community structures and make services easily
accessible to those in greatest need. By doing so, it is possible to support resource deficient
communities and particularly orphans thereby creating an environment (habitat) that is
conducive for their development. For the proper development of children resourceful social
and physical environment is not sufficient. Children should also assume roles and statuses
(niche) congruent to their age.
Through process evaluation and a combination of qualitative data collection methods,
and instruments designed to respond to the research objectives, an effort is made to describe
the link created between the formal and informal caregiving, the benefit of creating the link
and the trends in kinship caregiving. The nature of relationship created between surrogate
parents and children is also described. Discussions are made based on the findings, the
theoretical frameworks, literatures reviewed and based on the researcher’s critical view of
specific issue. Finally recommendations are made based on the findings of the research
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Social Work