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Colonial Period
The Catholic Church provides social services to the poor and marginalized, establishing hospitals, orphanages, and other charitable institutions. -
Early 20th century
Social work emerges as a profession in Brazil, influenced by European and North American models, focusing on vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with disabilities. -
The first School of Social Work in Brazil
In the 1930s, Brazil underwent a process of industrialization and urbanization, resulting in the growth of the working class. Social service is demanded by the ruling class with the State so that it could contain the working class that claimed for better working conditions and social justice. In this context, the first School of Social Work emerged, known as the Center for Studies and Social Action, which soon after would be integrated with PUC in São Paulo. -
Industrial growth
In the 1940s, there is the outbreak of an industrial bourgeoisie and the growth of the Brazilian proletariat, accompanying an economic policy marked by industrialization processes. With this, the State perceives the need to create, then, assistance institutions with the objective of directing the claims of the working class through social policies, aiming at work demands for social workers. Institutionally, thus, the executing agents of social policies aimed at the urban proletariat appear. -
Reconceptualization movement
The profession's reconceptualization movement begins. We sought to change the traditionalist way of Social Work. The intention of rupture wanted to break with the intellectual and cultural heritage of traditional Social Work (North American and European), based on the Marxist conception of a critical and reflexive nature as a means for the analysis of social reality. -
Military Dictatorship period
Military dictatorship in Brazil leads to widespread human rights violations, social inequality, and economic exploitation. The profession is directed towards macro-societal analyzes regarding the country and the profession itself, especially focused on actions aimed at a greater understanding of the social issue and its relationship with the working class. -
End of dictatorship.
1970s: Marxist theory and Paulo Freire's pedagogy of the oppressed heavily influences the critical perspective of Brazilian social work, emphasizing education and empowerment in the struggle for social change.
1980s: Social work in Brazil expands its focus beyond traditional areas such as health care and social assistance to address new and emerging issues, such as violence, human trafficking, and environmental justice. -
Code of Ethics for Social Workers
Document that guides the actions and performance of Social Workers in Brazil -
Law n º 8.662/1993
Law that regulates the profession of Social Work in Brazil