PhD (Social Work), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2017 AGTERGROND: Die straatkindverskynsel is ʼn steeds groeiende maatskaplike probleem wêreldwyd, en ook in Suid-Afrika. Alhoewel daar wetgewing en verskeie programme en dienste in Suid-Afrika beskikbaar is om die behoeftes van straatkinders te hanteer, is die realiteit dat daar heelwat tekortkominge bestaan en dat daar steeds nie voldoende in hierdie teikengroep se behoeftes voorsien word nie. ʼn Leemte is geïdentifiseer rakende kennis aangaande straatkinders se psigososiale funksionering en veral hulle behoefte aan lewensvaardighede. Hierdie navorsingstudie is onderneem met die oorhoofse doel om die psigososiale funksionering van straatkinders by die Thakaneng Kinder- en Jeugsorgsentrum (TKJS) te bevorder deur die ontwikkeling, implementering en evaluering van ʼn lewensvaardigheids-program. Hierdie lewensvaardigheidsprogram is saamgestel op grond van die temas van die lewenskaartetegniek, wat ʼn terapeutiese hulpmiddel in maatskaplike dienslewering is. Die doelwitte wat uit die doelstelling voortgespruit het, is: * Om ʼn kritiese ontleding te doen van bestaande programme vir straatkinders in Suid-Afrika * Om die psigososiale funksionering en die behoeftes van straatkinders by die TKJS te bepaal * Om ʼn lewensvaardigheidsprogram wat gebaseer is op die lewenskaartetegniek vir straatkinders by die TKJS te ontwikkel en te implementeer * Om die uitkomste van sodanige lewensvaardigheidsprogram op die psigososiale funksionering van straatkinders by die TKJS te bepaal. METODE: Hierdie ondersoek was verkennend, beskrywend, verklarend en evaluerend van aard. Gemengde-metodenavorsing is benut en die studie is in drie fases beplan en uitgevoer. Fase 1 was die behoeftebepaling en literatuurstudie, fase 2 die programontwikkeling en fase 3 die implementering en evaluering van die lewensvaardigheidsprogram. 50 straatkinders van die Thakaneng Kinder- en Jeugsorgsentrum het aan die studie deelgeneem. Die lewensvaardigheidsprogram is met behulp van maatskaplike groepwerk aangebied. ʼn Selfontwerpte vraelys is gebruik vir die behoeftebepaling. Die kwantitatiewe data is verkry met behulp van die gestandaardiseerde Kinderfunksioneringsinventaris – Senior Primêr (CFI-SPRIM), waar eksperimentele navorsing, in die vorm van ʼn Solomon-viergroep toegepas is om die psigososiale funksionering van die straatkinders te bepaal. Daar was twee eksperimentele groepe en twee vergelykende groepe. Kwalitatief is fokusgroepe gehou met lede van die eksperimentele groepe. Die deelnemers se lewenskaarte het ook deel uitgemaak van die kwalitatiewe data. Die kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe bevindinge het daarop gedui dat die lewensvaardigheidsprogram bygedra het tot ʼn bevordering van die psigososiale funksionering van die straatkinders by die Thakaneng Kinder- en Jeugsorgsentrum BACKGROUND: The street child phenomenon is a growing social problem worldwide, and also in South Africa. Although laws and various programmes and services are available in South Africa to address the needs of street children, there are still many shortcomings, and the needs of this target group are still not being met adequately. A gap has been identified regarding knowledge about street children's psychosocial functioning and especially their need for life skills. This research study was undertaken with the overall goal to promote the psychosocial functioning of street children in the Thakaneng Child and Youth Care Centre (TCYC) through the development, implementation and evaluation of a life skills programme. This life skills programme has been compiled on the basis of themes of the life maps technique, which is used as a therapeutic tool in social service provision. The goals that were derived from this objective, are: * To do a critical analysis of existing programmes for street children in South Africa * To determine the psychosocial functioning and the needs of street children in the TCYC * To develop and implement a life skills programme based on the life maps technique for street children at the TCYC * To determine the outcomes of such a life skills programme for the psychosocial functioning of street children at the TCYC. METHOD: This study was exploratory, descriptive, explanatory and evaluative in nature. Mixed-method research was used and the study was planned and executed in three phases. Phase 1 involved a needs assessment and literature study, phase 2 programme development and phase 3 the implementation and evaluation of the life skills programme. 50 street children of Thakaneng Child and Youth Care Centre participated in the study. The life skills programme was offered by means of group work. A questionnaire developed by the researcher was used for the needs assessment. The quantitative data was obtained using the standardised Child Functioning Inventory – Senior Primary (CFI-SPRIM), where experimental research was applied in the form of a Solomon four-group to determine the psychosocial functioning of the street children. Two experimental groups and two control groups were used. Qualitatively focus groups were held with members of the experimental group. The participants’ life maps also formed part of the qualitative data. The qualitative and quantitative findings indicated that the life skills programme contributed to the improved psychosocial functioning of the street children in the Thakaneng Child and Youth Care Centre. Doctoral
