South African child welfare organisations are currently faced with a huge task. Not only must they find strategies to tackle poverty and redress the inequalities created by apartheid, but in addition they must develop effective models of care to support children and families affected by the rapidly spreading HIV/AIDS epidemic. This paper by Mary Harber looks at the implications of HIV/AIDS for the mainly black South African children and families affected by the epidemic and considers the consequences for child welfare organisations. It looks in particular at the role of adoption in South Africa and its potential to become a viable model of care for children affected by HIV/AIDS. It presents the results of research undertaken by the author which examined the achievements of, and dilemmas faced by, one child welfare agency as it attempted to adapt the ‘Western’ model of adoption, which is prevalent in South Africa, in order to create a more appropriate service for black South African children.
AnkrahE M, ‘The impact of HIV/AIDS on the family and other significant relationships: the African clan revisited’, in BorRElfordJ (eds), The family and HIV, London: Cassell, 1994.
2.
BAAF, Recruiting Black Families, Practice Note 18, London: BAAF, 1991.
3.
BandaweC RLouwJ, ‘The experience of family foster care in Malawi: a preliminary investigation’, Child Welfare76: 4, pp 535–47, 1997.
4.
BarnettTBlaikieP, AIDS in Africa: Its present and future impact, London: John Wiley & Sons, 1994.
5.
BrinkP, Adoption Practice in the AIDS Era, paper presented at conference entitled ‘Raising the orphan generation’, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 9–12 June 1998.
6.
Department of Health, Eighth National HIV Survey of Women Attending Antenatal Clinics of the Public Health Services, October/November 1997, Pretoria: South African Department of Health Circular, 1998.
7.
Department of Welfare, White Paper for Social Welfare, Pretoria: South African Department of Welfare and Population Development, 1997.
8.
DirksJ, The Socio-economic Impact of HIV in South Africa, New York: United Nations HIV and Development Programme, 1994.
9.
FosterGMakufaCDrewRKambeuSSaurombeK, Supporting Children in Need through a Community-based Visiting Programme, A School Without Walls Publication, Harare, Zimbabwe: Southern African AIDS Training Programme, 1995.
10.
HoweD, ‘Adoption outcome research and practical judgement’, Adoption & Fostering22:2, pp 6–15, 1998.
11.
HunterSWilliamsonJ, Children on the Brink: Strategies to support children isolated by HIV/AIDS, Arlington, USA: HIV/AIDS Division of USAID (US Agency for International Development), 1997.
12.
JacksonH, AIDS Action Now: Information prevention and support in Zimbabwe (2nd edition), Harare: AIDS Counselling Trust and School of Social Work, 1992.
13.
JonesS, Family Systems and Support Structures 1985–1995, Durban: Department of Anthropology, University of Natal, 1995.
14.
KhanT, ‘Trying to reduce risk to newborn babies’, South Africa, Mail & Guardian, unpublished 29 November—5 December, 1996.
15.
LedderbogeU F, Transracial Placements of Children in the Durban Metropolitan Area, unpublished M. Soc. Sci. thesis, Durban: University of Natal, 1996.
16.
MatovuLMwatsamaMNdagireB, Family patterns in East African communities: implications for children Affected by HIV/AIDS, Adoption & Fostering22:1, pp 17–23, 1998.
17.
MckerrowN H, ‘When children are orphaned by AIDS’, Positive Outlook1:4, pp 8, 9 & 12, 1994.
18.
MudariM C, AIDS and African Childhood in London: The paradox of African traditions and modern concerns on childhood, paper presented at conference entitled ‘Raising the orphan generation’, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 9–12 June 1998.
19.
MukoyogoM CWilliamsG, AIDS Orphans: A community perspective from Tanzania, Strategies for Hope Series, London/Dares Salaam/Colchester: Action Aid/AMFREF/World in Need, 1991.
20.
PakatiE R V, Legal Adoption in an African Community, unpublished M. Soc. Sci. Thesis, Durban: University of Natal, 1984.
21.
PakatiE R V, Trends in Adoption Behaviour in the African Family and the Role of Social Work, unpublished PhD thesis in Social Work, Pretoria: University of South Africa, 1992.
22.
Panos, The Hidden Cost of AID: The challenge of HIV to development, Panos Dossier 6, London: Panos Publications, 1992.
23.
Preston-WhyteE, ‘Kinship and marriage’, in Hammond-TookeW D (ed), The Bantu-speaking Peoples of South Africa, London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1974.
24.
Preston-WhyteE, ‘Women who are not married: fertility, “illegitimacy” and the nature of households and domestic groups among single women in Durban’, South African Journal of Sociology24:3, pp 63–71, 1993.
25.
SchreuderL, Personal communication, South African Council for Child and Family Welfare, 1996.
26.
ShishutaH B, Foster Care as a Form of Substitute Care in the Black Community: An exploratory-descriptive study, unpublished M. Soc. Sci. Thesis, Grahamstown: Rhodes University, 1996.
27.
South African Institute of Race Relations, Race Relations Survey 1988–1989, Johannesburg: South African Institute of Race Relations, 1989.
28.
South African Institute of Race Relations, Race Relations Survey 1993–1994, Johannesburg: South African Institute of Race Relations, 1994.
29.
South African National Council for Child and Family Welfare, A Guide to Adoption Practice in the Child Welfare Movement in South Africa, Johannesburg: South African National Council for Child and Family Welfare, 1996.
UNICEF, Report on a Meeting About AIDS and Orphans in Africa, Florence 14–15 June 1991, New York & Geneva: UNICEF, 1991.
32.
WhitesideAWilkinsNMasonBWoodG, The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Planning Issues in KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg: Town and Regional Planning Commission, 1995.
