Drug Abuse
ERSTA SKÖNDAL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
The Department of Social Work – Sköndalsinstitutet
Bachelor Degree in Social Work – 160 credits
Sköndal - Stockholm
WHEN A CHILD LEAVES HOME FOR THE STREETS
– from the family’s perspective
Anna Jenemark
Minor Thesis in Social Work, 10 credits
T6Ä, 2006
Instructor: Johan Kejerfors
Contact person: Elisabeth Håmsø
Examiner: Bengt Börjeson
ABSTRACT
There are many theories to why street children leave their families to live on the street, but most research made includes only the street child and parents, not including the rest of the family. The purpose of this thesis was to describe what the street child’s family look like, how individual family members explained and handled the situation of having a son, brother or cousin living on the street and which coping strategies the family members have developed in this situation. The study was conducted in two poor areas in Fortaleza, Brazil, called Bom Jardim and Granja
Portugal. To answer the research questions the coping theory has been used as theoretical framework. A semi structured interview guide was used when interviewing the six family members from three different families and also two social workers. All interviews were taped.
The results of the interviews are presented following the research questions. The results show that most of the street boy’s caregivers are unemployed and illiterate, but according to the family members poverty was not the reason why the boy left home. An incident that had an impact on all families was moving to the city from the rural countryside. For all families this lead to the boy going to the street. The most common coping resource for all family members was their family and to have good health.
Keywords: street children, coping strategies, family background
2
Acknowledgements
Firstly I would like to thank my instructor Johan Kejerfors, Lecturer and Researcher at the department of social work at Stockholm
The Department of Social Work – Sköndalsinstitutet
Bachelor Degree in Social Work – 160 credits
Sköndal - Stockholm
WHEN A CHILD LEAVES HOME FOR THE STREETS
– from the family’s perspective
Anna Jenemark
Minor Thesis in Social Work, 10 credits
T6Ä, 2006
Instructor: Johan Kejerfors
Contact person: Elisabeth Håmsø
Examiner: Bengt Börjeson
ABSTRACT
There are many theories to why street children leave their families to live on the street, but most research made includes only the street child and parents, not including the rest of the family. The purpose of this thesis was to describe what the street child’s family look like, how individual family members explained and handled the situation of having a son, brother or cousin living on the street and which coping strategies the family members have developed in this situation. The study was conducted in two poor areas in Fortaleza, Brazil, called Bom Jardim and Granja
Portugal. To answer the research questions the coping theory has been used as theoretical framework. A semi structured interview guide was used when interviewing the six family members from three different families and also two social workers. All interviews were taped.
The results of the interviews are presented following the research questions. The results show that most of the street boy’s caregivers are unemployed and illiterate, but according to the family members poverty was not the reason why the boy left home. An incident that had an impact on all families was moving to the city from the rural countryside. For all families this lead to the boy going to the street. The most common coping resource for all family members was their family and to have good health.
Keywords: street children, coping strategies, family background
2
Acknowledgements
Firstly I would like to thank my instructor Johan Kejerfors, Lecturer and Researcher at the department of social work at Stockholm