Children face the highest incidence of poverty in Chile. In order to reduce the incidence of poverty and malnutrition among children, the Government of the Republic of Chile introduced the ‘Chile Growths With You’, or Chile Crece Contigo (ChCC), child protection scheme in 2006 aimed at guaranteeing a healthy environment for child development that upholds their rights. At the heart of ChCC is the Biopsychosocial Development Support Programme, directed at children between 0 and 4 years and coordinated by the Ministry of Health. This programme involves intensive support during early childhood with respect to control, surveillance and the promotion of health. Another central component of the programme is guaranteed and free access to public child care centres for vulnerable households. A study carried out by UNDP in order to evaluate ChCC’s impact on female labour market participation found that about 60 per cent of mothers benefiting from the programme were able to search for employment.
ChCC is a child protection system designed to reach all children and has been designed to equalise development opportunities specifically for the most vulnerable children from gestation until they enter the school system. As such, the most vulnerable children and their families and afforded preferential access to social services and social programmes related to income support, employment and housing. Free access to public child care centres is intended to reach the poorest 60 per cent of children. In 2009, approximately 82 per cent of children under the age of 4 years accessed the public health system.
The reform of childhood policies in Chile started with the formation of an advisory council consisting of national and international experts in 2006. The programme was then implemented gradually starting with the universal provision of benefits in 2007. Through the enactment of Law 20.379, the programme was given institutional status in 2009, thus becoming a permanent feature of public policy in Chile. By seeking to equalise the opportunities of child development, ChCC addresses the structural determinants of poverty and addresses intergenerational poverty.
Further Reading:
- Claudia Robles Farías (2012). Social Protection Systems in Latin America and the Carribean: Chile. United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Carribean, Santiago. Accessed from http://www.cepal.org/en/publications/4031-social-protection-systems-latin-america-and-caribbean-chile on December 2016.