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The guarantee of social rights begins with the information each person receives, and this is strongly connected to the territory they belong to. It is in these places where people face daily challenges, build relationships, and where they should also find the support needed to overcome situations of vulnerability. Instituto C understands that coordination among the social assistance network within the territories is what strengthens families through proper guidance and services.
It is important to understand that no service operates alone, and we need this integration to know how to guide each person according to their needs and the appropriate service that can support them. In the North Zone, where one of our centers is located, we can see in practice how this works and how it has made a difference.
In the Brasilândia region, the most populous neighborhood in the North Zone, the effects of inequality and vulnerability are strongly present. For this reason, CRAS, CREAS, UBS units, UPAs, and civil society organizations work collectively to meet some of the residents’ needs. After all, they share a common goal: ensuring social protection, health, inclusion, and dignity for all people.
Exchange of experiences and collective learning
Network meetings are moments of coordination among services and organizations, enabling important discussions and reflections on topics that influence the work of professionals. In one of the meetings, held at Instituto C in August, representatives from various services were present, including Rogério Andrade, from the LGBTI+ Citizenship Center Luana Barbosa dos Reis, which supports victims of LGBTphobia or people in situations of vulnerability.
Rogério reflected on the importance of sharing experiences from each service and how this helps the entire network handle different demands: “The struggles are very similar across the various services. It’s useful to think about which strategies can be shared so we can understand what works in my service that might help others deal with similar situations.”
Another institution in the network that works with young people is Espro. Luciano Duarte, a social coordinator, explains the value of this exchange: “The purpose of network coordination is precisely to allow us to do collective work with families. And then we are truly able to change their reality.”
The strength of the network lies precisely in how these services communicate. At Instituto C, one of our main approaches to guiding families toward autonomy is ensuring that they have access to information and understand their own rights. We also do this by referring them to services that can address the issues they bring to us.
Building a relationship of care
At Instituto C, based on our experiences, we understand that social change begins with listening and welcoming, so we can identify needs and coordinate with the network responsible for implementing public policies. This is why coordination among services is not merely a technical requirement of the Unified Social Assistance System (SUAS), but also a necessity for public policies to be integrated and effective in people’s lives.
“When we open ourselves up to listening to people, we begin to understand their stories and needs. That is why network work with the services is one of our pillars, because in the end, these connections are what allow public policies to become real paths of transformation in the lives of those who need them most,” explains Katia Moretti, Instituto C’s project manager.
In the daily work of our technical team, they observe how important it is to view the network through a collaborative lens. Suellen Claudino, a psychologist at the institute, explains that when we manage to work together—by making contact with CRAS, UBS units, schools, and other assistance services—we become a reference in the territory, and the work with families becomes much more effective.
Additionally, this collective coordination and attentive listening help break some of the fears and hesitations people may have when accessing services. “Families are not always well received when they are referred to assistance services, which can create a sort of barrier. When that happens, our role is to accompany the family, guide them, and say, ‘You can go—they will welcome you. You will be supported and strengthened, and we will be working together,’” Suellen shares.
When CRAS, CREAS, CAPS, UBS units, schools, community groups, and local leaders see themselves as part of a dynamic and collaborative network, it becomes possible to build more effective paths for protecting families in situations of social vulnerability. Real change only happens when the public sector, civil society, and the active participation of those who live in the territory work together.
