Municipal Social Assistance Councils: New Competencies for the Work of the Social Worker

Abstract

This article presents the results of a study about Municipal Social Assistance Councils (CMAS) and the insertion of social workers in these public spaces in Rio de Janeiro State. Its objective is to contribute to the debate about the demands placed on Social Work professionals in relation to councils that administer public policies, and more specifically, the Municipal Social Assistance Councils. The methodological procedures combine a bibliographic and documental study of secondary data with questionnaires presented by e-mail and telephone consultations with the social assistance secretariats at 92 municipalities in Rio de Janeiro State, from September 2010 – June 2011. Through the data surveyed, it was possible to conclude that there has been an increase in the participation of social workers on the councils, particularly since 2000, when they were given new competencies, deepening and qualifying their work in the administration of public policies.

Keywords

• conselho municipal de assistência social
• serviço social
• participação