The Roles of Social Workers Towards the Children of Divorced Parents and Recipients of Welfare Assistance

Abstract

Divorce leaves many profound effects on various aspects of a child’s life. When a couple divorces, there is not yet anybody that specifically offers services to help the couple’s children to go through the divorce crisis. The purpose of this study was to examine the roles played by social workers in caring for children of divorced parents. This study used a qualitative and phenomenological approaches with the involvement of ten social workers as study informants. They were selected using purposive sampling with several inclusive and exclusive criteria. The in-depth interview was conducted using semi-structured questions. The study data was analysed using thematic analysis with the help of ATLAS.ti computer software version 7. To maintain the social work field standards, the study results were matched with the role terms outlined by NASW standard including five identified social worker roles played by the social workers in the context of interventions on children of divorced parents which are enablers, brokers, motivators, facilitators and mediators.