OS MUNICÍPIOS DE PEQUENO PORTE E A PANDEMIA DA COVID-19: ANOTAÇÕES SOBRE A GESTÃO DA POLÍTICA DE ASSISTÊNCIA SOCIAL

Abstract

Reflecting on the social management of public policies involves analyzing how the State responds to societal demands, especially regarding aging. Social assistance policy, established as a social right since 1988, is an example of this process, managed by the Unified Social Assistance System (SUAS), which coordinates actions at the national, state, and municipal levels. SUAS considers regional diversity and the specific needs of municipalities of different sizes, adapting its strategies according to local realities. However, policy implementation is not limited to following national standards but also depends on local administrative capacities, especially in small municipalities. Given the Covid-19 pandemic, it is necessary to understand how these municipalities face additional challenges of vulnerability and social risk, and how public policies can be adapted to protect families in vulnerable situations. This study is part of the Umbrella Project, which seeks to analyze the advancement of inclusive and distributive policies in response to the pandemic, involving various national and international higher education institutions. The research highlights the management of social assistance policy in small municipalities, examining how they address user demands during the health crisis, and identifies the main challenges faced by subnational entities.