Public Policies Aimed at Mitigating Social Inequalities Among Children and Adolescents

Study on the Reality of the State of Paraná

Abstract

This paper aims to present some public policies implemented in the state of Paraná to mitigate social inequalities among children and adolescents. The research focuses on analyzing governmental actions aimed at promoting equity in fundamental areas such as education, health, social assistance, and rights protection. Using a quantitative and qualitative approach, the study investigates the effectiveness of these policies in combating social vulnerability, while also identifying possible gaps and challenges in their implementation. The work also seeks to understand how these policies have contributed to improving the living conditions of at-risk children and adolescents, promoting greater social inclusion and reducing socioeconomic disparities. The results indicate that, although progress has been made in achieving the targets of the Decennial Plan, with 62.7% of them fully achieved, significant challenges persist, such as partial implementation or non-implementation of a considerable portion of the planned actions. Furthermore, the research identified concrete difficulties in accessing systematized and updated data, revealing the lack of an efficient computerized system for the continuous monitoring of policies. It is concluded that, to increase the effectiveness of governmental actions in reducing social inequalities, it is essential to invest in transparency, integrated monitoring platforms, and the strengthening of intersectoral coordination, with active participation from civil society. The study reinforces the importance of ongoing evaluation and the public availability of information for the improvement of policies targeting childhood and adolescence.