SPECIAL | Management in focus – Capital of early childhood

Gabriel Abreu – Cenarium Magazine

BOA VISTA (RR) – One of the main marks of the administration of former mayor Teresa Surita (MDB) was to start, in 2013, a true transformation in the social, education and health areas, prioritizing children, since pregnancy, through an integrated public policy, which develops several actions in an intersectoral way and made Boa Vista the Brazilian capital of early childhood.

In a study conducted by the Center for Science for Childhood (NCPI), the city was pointed out as a model in public policies for early childhood in Brazil. To consider Boa Vista as an example, the study analyzed innovative practices in the urban space through actions aimed at children.

The NCPI evaluated the investments and actions that impact early childhood. The focus of the research was mainly the urban interventions carried out by the city government in the city. The survey cited artistic manifestations on walls and sidewalks, as well as the restoration of public spaces. Other interventions evaluated were the ones made in health units and day care centers, as an example of actions to make the spaces more child-friendly.

All this work for early childhood is recognized by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV), Maria Cecilia Souto Vidigal Foundation, MELQO, and Bernard Van Leer, which are Boa Vista’s partners in building the city and focus on children. These institutions frequently visit the capital for follow-ups, studies, consultancies, and partnerships in actions aimed at the children.

Boa Vista’s policy concepts were also the basis for the creation of the Happy Child Program, of the federal government’s National Secretariat for Early Childhood Care. This innovative methodology of the
capital of Roraima has already reached more than 3,000 Brazilian municipalities.

In 2013, the Municipality of Boa Vista, even before the Federal Law No. 13.257/2016 – Legal Framework for Early Childhood, established as a priority the integrated public policy entirely focused on children, making the city the “Capital of Early Childhood” and a national and international reference.

For this, the attention starts when the mother is still pregnant, through the Família Que Acolhe program, which accompanies the child until the age of 6. When the pregnancy is confirmed, the pregnant woman registers in the program and starts to attend the meetings of the University of the Baby, which works with themes related to the care of her own and the child’s health, the importance of the first years, of love, affection, and playing in this phase of life, extending this and other information to the family members as well.

“We have, today, an integrated and intersectoral early childhood public policy, in addition to the support of many partners, who collaborate with the knowledge put into practice within the urban equipment: in the daycare centers Casas Mãe, PróInfâncias, UBSs, in the buildings and public spaces”

Teresa Surita, former mayor of Boa Vista (RR)

Attendance in the program is important to guarantee a place in a daycare center when the child turns 2 years old, in addition to the entire outfit and milk, as a food supplement. According to former mayor Teresa Surita, this integral care needs to happen in the most important phase of a child’s life.

“We have, today, an integrated and intersectoral early childhood public policy, which provides a connected service among health, education, social, communication, technology, urbanism, in addition to the support of many partners, who bring knowledge put into practice within the urban equipment: in the day-care centers Casas Mãe, Pró-Infâncias, UBSs, in the squares, in public spaces”, Surita highlights.

In the social area, the City Hall was able to assist about 27,000 families through the social projects and programs. The Família Que Acolhe program (Family that Welcomes) alone assisted more than 23,000 families. Due to the social actions promoted by the Boa Vista City Hall, the municipality was awarded the UNICEF Seal in 2016.

Interventions for early childhood

Among the urban interventions in Boa Vista aimed at early childhood, the “Selvinhas Amazônicas” stand out, which are giant-sized toys characterized by the fauna and flora of the region. According to the city government, since 2013, 52 playgrounds with accessibility have been implemented in municipal schools and 30 parks in public squares.

Municipal public buildings have also gained a special place for children. There are also toys and interactive fountains in squares and construction sites throughout the city, offering playful, educational, and safe spaces for children, educational and safe spaces for children.

The capital also has the project “Caminhos da Primeira Infância” (Pathways to Early Childhood), which are paths used by children, connecting the neighborhood public equipment in a playful, fun, and safe way. They are schools, day care centers, basic health units, squares, and other connected public equipment. Teresa Surita (MDB) says that the work goes beyond management and changes lives for the better. “I believe in serious public policies. Boa Vista has consolidated itself as the ‘Capital of Early Childhood’ and is a model for the whole country and the world. This work is proof that the transformation we sought worked and that, to really happen, it needs to go through education, health, and caring for people,” she reiterated.

First children’s curriculum in the country

The Family that Welcomes (FQA) program aims to strengthen family ties so that children can achieve full development. The initiative focuses on actions that care for the child from pregnancy to 6 years old.

Regarding educational policies, teachers make use of the first child curriculum in the country, ensuring a quality education. Moreover, the municipality promotes campaigns to raise the population’s awareness about the importance of taking good care of babies and children. The Executive branch also promotes training for its employees on early childhood care.