Programa Criança Feliz

The CFP is an integrative program that offers and optimizes a network of protection and care services for mothers and children in poverty. It adopts a theory of change based on neuroscience research showing that foundations for learning and social and emotional development begin in pregnancy, form in the early years, and can be thwarted by stressors like poverty, abuse and neglect. The challenge is to intervene early, for developmental deficits arise as early as 7 months, widen, and by primary school are large and difficult to close. The CFP takes on this challenge to focus on at-risk pregnant women and young children. It targets BF beneficiaries with an affordable, scalable, do-more-with-less solution. It embraces ongoing skill development to build capacity of home visitors, supervisors, and facilitators and a cadre of managers for public policy planning, implementation, M&E, collaborative governance, and institutional articulation.