Family Action Plan

The Family Action Plan or Dara Method

The Family Action Plan or Dara method is an innovative, multidisciplinary social methodology created by Dara Institute over more than three decades, working and learning with the families we serve. The Plan is based on the understanding that poverty is multidimensional, and that social transformation of vulnerable families is only possible when the social determinants of health are addressed in an integrated manner.

The Method consists of a plan of goals and integrated activities in the areas of Health, Housing, Revenue Generation, Citizenship and Education. The plan is agreed upon with the families and aims to help families improve their lives and become agents of their destiny.

The methodology has been recognized in Brazil and internationally for its innovation and intersectoral approach to fighting poverty. In 2003, the received the Social Technology certification from the Banco do Brasil Foundation.

HEALTH

In health, Dara works with clinical medicine, nutrition and psychology and offers guidance to the families served to promote improved health, well-being, and quality of life. Dara also promotes preventive practices, information on how to prevent diseases, undergo necessary exams, and encouraging families to practice physical activities and healthy eating habits. In addition, the program helps families understand and navigathe the National Public Health System (SUS).

Medical Counselling

 

Upon arrival at Dara, families go through an initial anamnesis to map their problems, needs, and develop a plan of action. Once the families have understood their clinical conditions, they are guided and directed to the services offered by the National Health System or to partner institutions, so that they can have access to medication, products and procedures.

Nutritional 

The nutrition program works to inform families about healthy eating an works to promote food security for all members of the family.

Psychological Support

For individuals with mental health issues, Dara offers, to those who choose, a team of professionals, volunteers and partners able to provide psychological care.

Special Task Forces

On occasion, Dara, volunteer professionals and partner organizations carry out special health task forces to provide families with services in ophthalmology, preventive dental care among other services.

REVENUE

Professionals in the area identify the existing work skills in adults in families and promote actions that provide the development of new skills to enable the emergence of new job opportunities, increased employability or investment in entrepreneurship with a focus on creative economy.
Professional development courses

Professional development courses related to creative economy are given with a focus on culinary, beauty and handicrafts. The activities are structured in modules to allow participants to develop their skills according to the time available and their abilities.

Entrepreneurship

The purpose of this area is to develop skills and competencies of heads of households, in order to promote revenue generation, new job opportunities and entrepreneurship.

Identity strengthening

It promotes actions for the empowerment and strengthening of the cultural identity of black and brown women, so that they can become protagonists of their own history and change agents in their territories.

HOUSING

The work is conducted on two fronts: consulting and intervention. On the consulting front, Dara advises on good domestic hygiene and health practices, and provides technical support on civil construction issues. On the intervention front, renovations related to sanitary, hydraulic or electrical installations are carried out based on pre-established criteria.
Healthy home

The actions promoted for improvement works include the transfer of appliances, furniture and construction materials donated by our partners, including water tanks and filters, ensuring that families have access to basic health conditions.

Renovations

Renovations seek to ensure basic health conditions to families’ homes through guidance, donations of water tanks and filters, and improvement works – including adaptations for people with disabilities.

CITIZENSHIP

It proposes to encourage families to continuously adopt an attitude of civil participation, autonomy and protagonism in the context in which they live by promoting access to justice and providing guidance on their rights and duties.
Citizenship documents

Families are guided to obtain civil documents, such as birth certificate, identity card, CPF (Individual Taxpayer Registration), employment record card, voter’s card, and school transcript, among others.

Territory reconnaissance

By visiting families and their territories, the professionals of Instituto Dara can learn aspects of daily life that have not been noticed in previous interactions

‘Aconchego Família’ (Family Coziness) Project

The Project promotes meetings and discussions between the people responsible for the families served. It occurs mainly in conversation circles and lectures on topics such as feeding, breastfeeding, STIs, among others. In addition to disseminating knowledge, these moments also seek to strengthen self-esteem and emotional strength.

Legal task force

Twice a month, legal task forces are generally held at the headquarters of Instituto Dara to provide their beneficiaries with guidance and directions to resolve their legal issues. Legal services are provided with the support of professionals and partner institutions.

EDUCATION

The aim is to ensure access to education for school-age children and adolescents and to encourage the family’s direct participation in the academic life of their children, in addition to arousing the interest of adults at multiple formal and non-formal education spaces and promoting cultural activities.
Pedagogic supervision

It aims to verify the academic progress of school-age children, adolescents and young people by guiding students and families to the best use and full exercise of the right to education.

Targeted playful activities

Playful activities aimed at children and young people up to 12 years of age, with a view to observe and guide on psychopedagogical issues that require special supervision.

HOW THE FAMILY ACTION PLAN/DARA METHOD WORKS

The program seeks to provide families with information, knowledge and skills in health, housing, income generation, citizenship and education, that will help their exit from social vulnerability, achieve sustainability and agency in their lives.

Public hospitals, Social Assistance Reference Centers (Cras), public schools and daycare centers are the gateways to Instituto Dara.

Families in social vulnerability are referred to Dara by professionals from the partner unit.

Each family undergoes an initial assessment with the Service team, made up of professionals from areas such as Social Work, Revenue Generation, Medicine, Psychology, Nutrition, Architecture, Law, Pedagogy, and many others.

A plan with goals and actions is created in a participatory way according to the needs of each family. Families are also nurtured by volunteers on all working days.

The goals are reviewed once a month and each family is monitored for progress from time to time, based on indicators organized in an integrated information system.

On average, it takes a family two years to complete the program and move from a situation of social vulnerability to a condition of autonomy and dignity.

‘ACOLHIMENTO FAMILIAR’ (ARIIVAL WELCOME)
When families come to Dara for their monthly check-in, they are welcomed by the staff and volunteers in an ambience of affection, active listening, before they begin their meetings with the multidisciplinary professional team. This moment is called the Welcome. It is at the Welcome Moment that staff and volunteers seek to develop bonds with each family, which is key to their adherence and involvement in the Family Action Plan/Dara Method.