Terra dos Homens works to strengthen the legal and political structure in the area of childcare. This is achieved through the coordination of public policy organizations and networks and active participation in forums and councils of child and youth rights, as well as providing advice on the establishment of standards and guidelines to promote and defend the rights of children and adolescents.

Terra dos Homens has represented civil society for ten years in area of social work: Municipal Council on the Rights of the Child and the Adolescent (CMDCA-Rio), State Council on the Rights of the Child and the Adolescent (CEDCA), and Forum on the Rights of the Child and Adolescent.

Participation of Terra dos Homens' in the political sphere:

CMDCA - Municipal Council on the Rights of the Child and the Adolescent *
CEDCA - State Council on the Rights of the Child and the Adolescent
PNCFC - National Plan of Family and Community Life
ARELAF - Rede Latino-Americana de Acolhimento Familiar (Latin American Familiy Shelter Network)
UN - International guidelines for the protection of children without parental care

(*)Participation in the preparation of three municipal public policies for childhood and adolescence: Policy of intervention against domestic violence, policy for child and adolescent social care and municipal policy for the care of street children

National Working Group on Family and Community Based Care (Grupo de Trabalho Nacional)

Grupo de Trabalho Nacional was formed by governmental and non-governmental representatives from all 26 Brazilian states and the capital (Distrito Federal). The objective was to put into practice the National Plan of Promotion, Protection and Defense of the Right of Children and Adolescents to Family and Community Life, which was started in December 2006 by the National Council on the Rights of the Child and Adolescent (CONADA) and the National Council on Social Assistance (CNAS). The GT Nacional deals with federal regulations that are to be implemented by all 5,564 Brazilian municipalities. The discussions of GT Nacional include topics such as support to birth families, family shelter programs and procedures for institutional care.

From November 2005 to June 2010, 6,474 social work professionals participated in 21 seminars held in 19 Brazilian states. GT Nacional produced a publication - A Practical Guide of the Principles of Child and Adolescent Care. The guide is intended to contribute to the implementation of policies that meet the special demands of all children and adolescents whose rights have been violated, and it was distributed in all municipalities in Brazil. Additionally, the guide inspired the internal regulations of the Ministry of Social Development and Fight against Hunger (MDS) that provides technical guidance to the children and adolescent shelters.

For more information, please visit www.gtnacionalpcfc.org.br