Child Welfare:

Abstract

is a country that represents first world notions of development, while simultaneously dealing with extremes of underdevelopment, reflected in poverty, HIV/AIDS and violence. The South African child welfare system is overwhelmed by the demands being made on it (September, 2006). Appreciating the extent of vulnerability and abuse can be difficult as precise data are generally not available (September, 2006). However, it is known that extensive poverty and inadequate living conditions impact directly on South Africa's 19 million children, approximately 60% of whom are in dire need (Benjamin, 2005; Matthias, 2001; Samson et al., 2004). The lives of South African children have been transformed by the HIV/AIDS epidemic (Booysen & Arntz, http://socialwork.journals.ac.za/