Social Welfare Policy and Juvenile Homes in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

Social welfare policies are designed to enhance the welfare of citizens and help them cope with the social problems of changing conditions. Establishment of custodian homes serve as one of the welfare strategies for reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of delinquent juveniles in Nigeria. Lagos State government formulated the Child Right Law of 2007 in pursuit of the welfare of delinquent juveniles in custodian homes, the implementation of which appears to be challenged by several factors. The study therefore, examined the Social Welfare Policy provisions and the welfare of wards in Juvenile custodian homes in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study adopted exploratory and case study designs. Study population was 1,115 comprising civil servants in the Department of Youth Development (19), Juvenile homes staff (76) and juveniles in the custodial homes in Lagos state (1,020). Multi stage and stratified random sampling techniques were adopted in the selection of respondents. Taro Yamane formula was determine/set the sample size of 658. The data collection instruments were structured interview guide and validated questionnaires. The reliability test of the questionnaire yielded a Cronbach Alpha value ranging from 0.65 to 0.85. The response rate of the questionnaires was 96%, while 16 interviews were conducted with key informants. Qualitative data were content analyzed while descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) were used in analyzing quantitative data.  The study found that social welfare policy with these indicators (feeding, accommodation, beddings, health, education, vocation and recreation) is the major method/instrument of government to reform, rehabilitate and reintegrate delinquent juveniles in custodian homes in Lagos State (x=4.60, SD=.510). The implementation of the Child Right Law with regards to the welfare of custodian juveniles was rated moderate with these ratings on the indicators; feeding (x=3.35, SD=1.38), accommodation (x=3.35, SD=1.34), beddings (x=3.30, SD=1.41), health (x=3.27, SD=1.31), education (x=3.18, SD=1.38) and vocation and recreational facilities (x=3.21, SD=1.42). Findings from interview revealed that the more priority given to social welfare policy, the more achievement of reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of delinquent juveniles in custodian homes. The study concluded that the nature of implementation and operations of social welfare policy serves as a major impetus to achieving the purpose for which the custodian homes were established. The study recommended that implementation of social welfare policy must be prioritized at the custodian homes. The welfare of juveniles in the homes must be constantly reviewed and monitored and there should be wholesome reintegration process for released juveniles in order to avoid relapse.

Keywords: Child welfare, Custodian Homes, Social Welfare Policy, Social Welfare Services