Abstract:
This paper discusses the role of social workers and community volunteers in
providing services to foster care children living with HIV in South Africa. A literature review
was undertaken of 14 qualitative studies conducted in South Africa from 2012-2022. The
review showed the prominent role played by social workers in foster care, despite factors
which hindered service such as high caseloads, lack of knowledge on HIV and prioritisation
of quantity over quality. Hence, several challenges were faced by foster carers. The studies
also revealed that community volunteers were providing services to children living with
HIV through linking them to care and providing educational support. The literature shows
that the challenges faced by foster care parents and their children mostly resulted of social
workers’ inability to provide comprehensive services. Community volunteers offered services
where social workers were constrained. This paper concludes that social workers should
work in collaboration with community volunteers to cater to the limitations facing the social
work workforce in providing services to foster care parents and children living with HIV.
