Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

In recent years, Social Safety Net Programs has emerged as a critical factor shaping rehabilitation of street children across organizations operating in and around Akwa Ibom State. As institutions grapple with the pressures of globalization, regulatory reform, and shifting stakeholder expectations, understanding how social safety net programs relates to rehabilitation of street children has become an important area of both scholarly and practical concern.

Akwa Ibom State presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While social safety net programs is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on rehabilitation of street children within Akwa Ibom State remains sparse and, in places, contradictory. This lack of localized, rigorous evidence makes it difficult for decision-makers to know with confidence whether current approaches to social safety net programs are helping or hindering rehabilitation of street children — a gap this study sets out to close.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Social Safety Net Programs on rehabilitation of street children in Akwa Ibom State.
2. To assess the extent to which social safety net programs influences rehabilitation of street children within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with social safety net programs in relation to rehabilitation of street children.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing social safety net programs in order to improve rehabilitation of street children.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of social safety net programs on rehabilitation of street children in Akwa Ibom State?
2. To what extent does social safety net programs influence rehabilitation of street children within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with social safety net programs in relation to rehabilitation of street children?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize social safety net programs in order to improve rehabilitation of street children?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around rehabilitation of street children. For managers and practitioners within Akwa Ibom State, the study provides practical insight into how social safety net programs can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on social work by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this study confines itself to Akwa Ibom State, focusing specifically on how social safety net programs relates to rehabilitation of street children within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.