Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

In recent years, Social Welfare Policy has emerged as a critical factor shaping rehabilitation of street children across organizations operating in and around Enugu State. As institutions grapple with the pressures of globalization, regulatory reform, and shifting stakeholder expectations, understanding how social welfare policy relates to rehabilitation of street children has become an important area of both scholarly and practical concern.

Within the context of Enugu State, this relationship carries particular significance. Organizations in this setting operate under a distinct combination of economic, regulatory, and market conditions that may amplify or dampen the effect of social welfare policy on rehabilitation of street children, making a context-specific inquiry both timely and necessary.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While social welfare policy is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on rehabilitation of street children within Enugu 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 welfare policy 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 Welfare Policy on rehabilitation of street children in Enugu State.
2. To assess the extent to which social welfare policy influences rehabilitation of street children within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with social welfare policy in relation to rehabilitation of street children.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing social welfare policy in order to improve rehabilitation of street children.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of social welfare policy on rehabilitation of street children in Enugu State?
2. To what extent does social welfare policy influence rehabilitation of street children within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with social welfare policy in relation to rehabilitation of street children?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize social welfare policy 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 Enugu State, the study provides practical insight into how social welfare policy 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

The study is limited to an examination of Social Welfare Policy and its relationship with rehabilitation of street children within the context of Enugu State. It reflects a MSc-level scope of analysis and relies on data and perspectives available within that scope; generalizing the findings beyond this specific context should therefore be done with appropriate caution.