The dynamics of participation in Itajaí management councils

Abstract

This article presents the results of a survey carried out by the Municipal Councils for Social Welfare and for the Welfare of Children and Adolescents of Itajaí, in the state of Santa Catarina. Its main objective is to analyze the participatory dynamics of counselors during 2005 and 2006. The methodological procedures used were the collection and subsequent analysis of the data contained in the minutes of the meetings, and in the agendas discussed at meetings ordinary and extraordinary. The analysis was guided by the following axes: what is informed, what is discussed, and what is decided, based on the observation of the actors who were present in the discussions, and their statements and positions. As the main results of the survey, it was possible to understand the importance of participatory theme in the context of the councils enabled us to understand the limitations and possibilities of participatory processes that may, in the future, better qualify interventions in this process in the municipalities surveyed and in others, which can benefit from the results of this study.