EFFECTS OF FAMILY PRESERVATION SERVICES ON FAMILY COHESION: VIEWS OF FAMILY HEADS

Abstract

Family preservation services are considered essential and allow children to be with their families, which by implication, avoids their placement outside family care. This article presents the views of family heads on the effects of family preservation services, such as time spent together and connectedness. The findings of the study emerged from the qualitative approach, which entailed conducting semi-structured interviews with 20 family heads. Adverse circumstances such as travelling distances, lack of communication from professionals and fear of communal judgement faced by families during family preservation services are also addressed. The study nevertheless concludes that family preservation services are a mechanism to rebuild families.

Keywords

• child protection servics
• family
• family cohesion
• family preservation services
• social work
• family care