O Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente e a Atuação do Psicólogo

Abstract

Promulgated twenty years ago, The Child and Adolescent Statute ( Estatuto da Crianca e do Adolescente ) – ECA created a comprehensive set of laws to protect children and adolescent. This study identifies and systematizes the repercussion of the Statute over the performance of psychologists. Seven psychologists from the metropolitan area of Sao Paulo (ABC area), which have been practicing the profession since 1990, were interviewed to identify changes in their practice and the elements that motivated the possible changes. It was used two categories of analyze: a) the psychologist’s perception about the Statute and b) the use of the Statute. It was identified that its use has changed the practice of these psychologists because the Statute moves from the traditional practices of exclusion and blaming of the child and the adolescent to new practices of incorporation and acceptance of collective responsibility for the welfare of them.