“PCA” — “Casa de Acolhida” (Shelter House) Project

Introduction

The practice of institutionalizing children and teens from lower-income families dates back to the early days of Brazilian colonization. This approach, still socially accepted in some ways, disempowers the people it serves and their families; it fails to respect their individuality, potential, or personal history; it doesn't preserve family and community bonds; it revictimizes instead of repairing harm; it violates rights instead of protecting them. It was only with the enactment of the ECA (Brazil's Child and Adolescent Statute) that children and teens came to be recognized as rights holders in a unique stage of development. Referral to a shelter service became understood as a protective measure, exceptional and temporary in nature (Articles 92 and 101). The ECA also guaranteed children and teens the right to family and community life, first and foremost within their birth family and, only in exceptional cases, with a substitute family (Article 19); and it sought to break away from the culture of institutionalization by establishing (Article 23) that family poverty alone is not sufficient grounds for removing a child from their family. At the same time, Brazil's National Social Assistance Policy (PNAS) treats the family and the local area as its main points of reference, valuing coordination across different areas of action. The organization of the Unified Social Assistance System (SUAS) calls for coordination between the social-assistance network and other public policies, and the Rights Guarantee System (SGD) places the FAMILY at the center of attention. Shelter services for children and teens fall under High-Complexity Special Social Protection, and can be: a) emergency — up to 30 days; b) short-term — up to six months; c) medium-term — up to two years; d) long-term — more than two years.

Rationale

Civil society is becoming increasingly aware of its responsibility and its role in finding solutions to our municipality's social problems. From an economic standpoint, this translates into a better quality of life for the less fortunate; from a humanitarian standpoint, the personal fulfillment of being able to change that reality draws more and more volunteers. In this context, children and teens are the most affected, facing physical, sociocultural, and emotional hardship, along with serious difficulties adapting socially, academically, and personally — which inevitably affects the municipality's future as a whole. Aware of all this, PAS decided to take a more active role in this process by launching a medium-term shelter service for children and teens called the “Casa de Acolhida” (Shelter House) Project. This initiative aims to fulfill a protective role and restore rights, forming part of a protection network that strengthens family and community bonds, develops each child's potential, builds greater individual and social independence for the children and teens served, and empowers their families.

Principles

• Family separation is exceptional and temporary;
• Preservation and strengthening of family and community bonds;
• Guaranteed access to and respect for diversity, with no discrimination;
• Personalized, individualized care;
• Guaranteed freedom of belief and religion;
• Respect for the autonomy of children and teens.

Type of service

Medium-term Institutional Shelter: up to 2 years (High-Complexity Special Social Protection).

Service name

“Casa de Acolhida” (Shelter House).

Users

Children and teens of any gender.

Access conditions and pathways

• By court order;
• By request of the Guardianship Council — in which case the relevant authority must be notified, as set out in Article 93 of the ECA.

Hours of operation

Around the clock (24 hours).

Number of users

20 (as of 2021, 179 children had been sheltered in total).

Coverage

Municipal.

Location

Confidential — São Roque, SP, Brazil.

Description of the work

Medium-term shelter care, with a suitable space and trained staff ready to receive a child or teen at any hour of the day or night — in cases of urgent, emergency need for shelter — while a detailed diagnostic study of each case is carried out, aiming to: a) assess whether family life can be maintained or whether separation is needed; b) identify the most appropriate solution at that moment: immediate return to life with the birth family (immediate or extended) or with meaningful people from the community; c) make every effort so that, within less than two years, family reintegration becomes possible — with the immediate or extended family — or, if that's not possible, referral to a substitute family; d) under no circumstances does medium-term shelter care mean neglecting the principle that removal from the family should be exceptional, nor should it lead to giving up on finding ways to guarantee the child's or teen's right to family life, first with their birth family and, only exceptionally, with a substitute family.

Physical environment

Living space, a reference address, resting areas, common living spaces, storage for personal belongings, laundry facilities, bathing and personal hygiene areas, clothing, and personal items. Accessibility in line with Brazilian technical standards (ABNT). A residential area that isn't excessively removed, geographically or socioeconomically, from the background of the children and teens being sheltered. A home-like appearance, following the architectural style of other homes in the surrounding community, avoiding any signage that reveals the institutional nature of the facility.

Overall goal

To provide shelter and ensure full protection while preserving bonds with the birth family, unless a court order states otherwise.

Specific goals

• Help prevent the worsening of neglect, violence, and broken family bonds;
• Restore family and/or social bonds;
• Enable community life;
• Provide access to the social-assistance network, other bodies within the Rights Guarantee System (SGD), and relevant public policies;
• Support the development of skills, abilities, and opportunities so individuals can make choices independently;
• Provide access to cultural, recreational, sports, and occupational activities, both on-site and off-site, tailored to the interests, experiences, wishes, and possibilities of those being served;
• Help teens build the skills for independence and self-care.

Essential social work involved in the service

Welcoming/intake; active listening; developing family, group, and social life; social assessment; supporting families in their protective role; personal care; guidance and referral to local services with concrete follow-through; developing an individual and/or family care plan; family guidance; established protocols; monitoring and follow-up of referrals made; cross-referencing between services; preparing reports and/or case files; interdisciplinary work; socioeconomic assessment; information, communication, and rights advocacy; guidance on accessing personal identification documents; daily-living and life-organization activities; enrollment in job-training and job-readiness programs/projects; identifying and engaging extended or broader family; encouraging the exercise of citizenship; coordination with the social-assistance service network; coordination with services from other public policy areas and rights-defense bodies; interinstitutional coordination with other bodies in the Rights Guarantee System; monitoring and evaluation of the service; maintaining a database and information about the service, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and the Rights Guarantee System.

Expected social impact

• Fewer violations of social-assistance rights, and less worsening or recurrence;
• Fewer children living on the street or abandoned;
• More individuals and families under protection;
• Building independence;
• More individuals and families included in services and with access to opportunities;
• Breaking the cycle of domestic and family violence.

Guaranteed standards of care

• To be received with dignity;
• To have one's identity, integrity, and life story preserved;
• To have access to a space that meets quality standards for hygiene, accessibility, habitability, health, safety, and comfort;
• To have access to food that meets adequate nutritional standards, adapted to specific needs;
• To have access to a welcoming environment and private spaces to safeguard personal privacy and belongings;
• To have an environment and conditions that support the unique developmental process of children and teens;
• To be guaranteed placement with a substitute family whenever restoring or preserving bonds with the birth family isn't possible.

Material resources

Durable and consumable materials needed to run the service, such as furniture, computers, printers, telephones, beds, mattresses, bedding, table and bath linens, kitchenware, food, cleaning and personal hygiene supplies, clothing, toys, and more, along with educational, cultural, and sports materials.

Financial resources

• Agreement with the Municipal Government of São Roque: public funds transferred are used exclusively for salaries, payroll charges, and rent for the Casa de Acolhida shelter.
• Own resources: donations from individuals, businesses, and events cover all other expenses — water, electricity, telephone, cleaning and personal hygiene supplies, clothing, furniture, appliances, and building maintenance.
• Partnerships: with like-minded organizations and volunteer professionals (volunteer pediatrician, cardiologist, psychiatrist, ENT specialist, ophthalmologist, and dentist).

Human resources (per NOB-RH/SUAS staffing standards)

• 1 coordinator: 20 hours a week — volunteer;
• 1 psychoanalyst: 25 hours a month — contracted;
• 1 psychologist: 30 hours a week — contracted;
• 1 social worker: 30 hours a week — contracted;
• 1 administrative assistant: 40 hours a week — contracted;
• 1 caregiver/educator: 44 hours a week — contracted;
• 1 physical education instructor: 44 hours a week — contracted;
• 2 assistant caregivers/educators: 44 hours a week — contracted;
• 2 assistant caregivers/educators (day shift): 12h/36h rotation — contracted;
• 2 assistant caregivers/educators (night shift): 12h/36h rotation — contracted.

179 children have slept safely here

Every child sheltered needs a bed, food, medicine, school, and affection — 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Your donation sustains that routine.