Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Case Management Practices has increasingly attracted the attention of researchers, regulators, and practitioners concerned with rehabilitation of street children. This growing interest reflects the recognition that case management practices does not operate in isolation, but interacts with a wider set of institutional and market conditions found within Selected Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria.

Within the context of Selected Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria, 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 case management practices on rehabilitation of street children, making a context-specific inquiry both timely and necessary.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on case management practices, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with rehabilitation of street children, particularly within Selected Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria. Many organizations continue to make decisions about case management practices without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect rehabilitation of street children. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Case Management Practices on rehabilitation of street children in Selected Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which case management practices influences rehabilitation of street children within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with case management practices in relation to rehabilitation of street children.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing case management practices in order to improve rehabilitation of street children.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of case management practices on rehabilitation of street children in Selected Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria?
2. To what extent does case management practices influence rehabilitation of street children within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with case management practices in relation to rehabilitation of street children?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize case management practices 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 Selected Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria, the study provides practical insight into how case management practices 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 BSc study confines itself to Selected Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria, focusing specifically on how case management practices 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.