The work of social workers with children and adolescents

Abstract

This article is the result of studies, research and bibliographical surveys. It aims to support the work of social workers with children and adolescents. It is divided into two parts. A brief initial consideration demonstrates the contribution of the Marxist tradition to thinking about work with children and adolescents in history and the central aspects of this work for the reproduction of life. It is necessary to confront the phenomena of the “objectification of childhood” and “adultcentrism” that are expressions of conservatism in class society. In a second part, it discusses the work instruments of Social Work and the need to qualify the social issue in the particularity related to childhood and adolescence. It seeks to reiterate the political role of Social Work in institutions, taking into account the collective dimension of work, the exclusive attributions and professional competencies, as well as the principles of popular education, from an emancipatory and effectively democratic perspective.