The Government yesterday launched the Programa Social Criança e Adolescente (Social Programme for Children and Teenagers), aimed at improving the welfare of children and teenagers.

The programme involves fourteen different government ministries, and is set to receive R$2.9bn (US$1.6bn) over the next three years.

The programme includes the Caminho para Casa, Na Medida Certa e Bem-me-Quer programmes, some of the main elements in which are listed below:

Caminho para Casa
• Will provide payments of R$1,500 (US$830) to families to enable them to take back children who, for reasons of poverty, had previously been put into institutional care.
• Extra funding for care homes.
• Creation of a nationwide adoption register by 2009.

Na Medida Certa
• Construction and major refurbishment of young offenders’ institutes.
• Further development of educational (both academic and vocational), cultural and sporting facilities in young offenders’ institutes.

Bem-Me-Quer
• Implementation of a new programme to protect children and teenagers living under particular threat in the eleven urban areas with the highest levels of lethal violence against 10-19 year-olds.
• Increased resources for priority care for children and teenagers who have suffered violations such as child labour, domestic violence and sexual exploitation.

Source: Agência Brasil and Embassy of Brazil in London