Crianças e adolescentes abrigados: vínculos e rupturas na história de convivência familiar e comunitária

Abstract

The subject of this study is how children and teenagers in residential care coexist with the family and the community. The following questions, which guide this research, were raised based on my work experience as a Social Worker at the State of Minas Gerais Supreme Court: What is the profile of children and teenagers in residential care? What is the nature of the existent links with family and community before going into residential care? At what moment do the familiar links break? Is poverty a key factor in removing children and teenagers from their families? What is the role of social policies? This study is divided into three chapters. In Chapter I, I conduct a study on family, poverty and social policies. In Chapter II, I briefly reconstruct the historical of the Underage Code, the Child and Teenage Statute and the right to coexist in family and community. In Chapter III, I aim to relate the national reality with the situation of children and teenagers in residential care in Barbacena, a town in the State of Minas Gerais. Using data collected in interviews with relatives of children and teenagers that have been in residential care for over one year, I analyze their history and the past rupture of their connections with the family and the community. In the conclusion, more than certainties, I point out doubts and questions for future reflection, since this subject has shown to be stimulating from the approach I took in this study.