THE WORK OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST WITH THE GUARDIAN COUNCIL, AS A CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROMOTION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND GUARANTEE OF THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

The work of psychologists alongside Child Protective Services is of utmost importance, as their practice can contribute to a more humane and comprehensive approach to the cases they handle, as well as the well-being of the team. Psychologists working with Child Protective Services directly promote and protect the rights of children and adolescents. Their relevance lies in their ability to provide psychological assessments, guidance, and emotional support to families in situations of risk, as well as offering assistance to children and adolescents who have experienced violence, neglect, or abuse. This study aimed to present considerations about the role of psychologists within Child Protective Services, examining their contribution to the promotion of mental health and the rights of children and adolescents. The methodology used consisted of a literature review, through the consultation of scientific articles in electronic databases such as Pepsic, Scielo, and Google Scholar. Keywords used included "Psychologist," "Child Protective Services," "Child and Adolescent Statute," and "Mental Health." Among the articles, 25 were selected, and 13 others were discarded in the search as they were not related to the research topic. Among the results found, it was evident that the aforementioned professionals can work both in prevention and intervention in situations of violence, neglect, and social vulnerability, always striving to ensure the rights of children and adolescents and promote their mental health. Therefore, it is concluded that the integration of psychology with Child Protective Services is fundamental in developing a more compassionate and empathetic perspective on the issues involving this population, as well as in expanding and strengthening this protection network.