Poverty (not) is a reason for hosting

an overview of the institutional host of children and adolescents in the Federal District

Abstract

This paper analyzes whether there is any direct relationship between poverty and the hosting of children and teenagers in institutions supervised by the VIJ-DF. An attempt was made to legally and theoretically substantiate the condition of poverty; the main reasons for hosting were identified; a sample of cases about institutional hosting was characterized; and situations were perceived where poverty determined (by itself) institutional hosting, comparing them with those that were other reasons for hosting. In addition, a documentary research and a data mapping through SEFAE social reports of the year 2008 were executed to support the documental analysis and to identify the existence (or not) of poverty in the families with sheltered children and teenagers. In terms of results, it was found that the majority of children and adolescents sheltered are from poor families and that there is a relationship between poverty, institutional hosting and social vulnerability. The results also showed that poverty is one of the main reasons for institutional care, highlighting the substance abuse as the main element of vulnerability in families. Finally, the results also point to a fragility of the public power regarding the protection of these families in situations of poverty and social vulnerability, showing the need to strengthen social policies to guarantee their rights.