THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT PROGRAM/PADIN: BETWEEN POTENTIAL AND VULNERABILITIES

Abstract

The study analyzed the Child Development Support Program (PADIN), an intersectoral policy in the state of Ceará aimed at families with children aged 0 to 3 who are not served by daycare centers, fostering comprehensive child development through positive parenting. The research, basic and descriptive in nature, used the survey technique, with questionnaires applied using Google Forms® to 60 implementation agents (Supervisors and ADI) and 148 parents/guardians from nine municipalities in Ceará. The data was analyzed quantitatively using Jamovi® software. The results showed high approval of the program among both groups, with average ratings close to 10. Supervisors and ADIs acknowledged SEDUC/CE's support and highlighted the positive impact of PADIN on parental attitudes. Families reported improvements in interaction with their children, especially through play, although some of them were not involved in all the activities. Shortcomings in intersectorality and limitations in logistical support on the part of some municipalities were pointed out. The conclusion is that PADIN plays an important role as a complementary strategy to early childhood education, especially given the low coverage of daycare centers. We suggest expanding the program beyond the current vulnerability criteria, increasing the participation of the Health and Social Assistance departments in the training sessions, and requiring a greater counterpart from the municipalities. The main limitation is the sample size, and further studies covering the state are recommended.