Social assistance and protection initiatives in Brazil

Various regional initiatives in Brazil have focused on professional training for social assistance workers to improve the management and delivery of public services.

In Tocantins, the Associação Tocantinense de Municípios conducted a session in Palmas titled ‘CMAS na prática: Governança e Controle Social no SUAS’. The training, part of the ‘Gestão com Norte’ program, provided over 150 participants with updates on the roles and responsibilities of Municipal Social Assistance Councils to strengthen legal security and technical management.

In São Paulo, the ‘Com Vivências’ Project, organized by the State Secretariat of Social Development, hosted training in Votuporanga for more than 100 professionals from 49 municipalities. This initiative focused on the Unified Social Assistance System (SUAS) and aimed to create an accessible guide to help social assistance networks better communicate public services, programs, and rights to families.

Recent efforts have expanded to include specialized protection and welfare services across several states. In Piauí, following a 54% increase in harassment complaints reported by the Labor Public Ministry, the Federal University of Delta do Parnaíba hosted prevention workshops regarding moral and sexual harassment. Efforts to combat domestic violence include awareness lectures in Cuiabá and educational circles on the Maria da Penha Law in Fernandópolis, which also plans to implement a specialized Women’s Care Reference Center (CRAM).

Disability services have also seen new developments. Cabo Frio launched a listening program to guide autistic individuals and people with disabilities toward specialized care, while Salvador’s municipal government is distributing equipment to non-profit institutions, such as Apae and the Institute of Blindness of Bahia, to strengthen specialized socio-assistance.