Exploring adolescents' participation in decision-making in related foster care placements in South Africa

Abstract

Since the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted in 1989, children have a right to express their views and participate in matters concerning them. This aspect of participation is also encompassed in legislation in South Africa. This paper explores the participatory decision-making experiences that adolescents have relating to their foster care placements by conducting a qualitative research study. Findings indicate that a minority of adolescents were included in the decisionmaking processes. The paper concludes with findings for foster care and recommends that adolescents should be taken seriously in matters concerning them.