The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity  praised the investment made by the Government of the Azores in the Parental Education Programme and the technicians who promoted it among beneficiary families.

 "There has been a decrease in the number of conflicts as well as in their severity, which is the best possible outcome for a pioneering programme in the definition of strategic goals and intervention axes," stressed Andreia Cardoso. The government official spoke at the opening session of the 9th Childhood Day on the theme "Give Voice to Children: Perspectives of Participatory Education," an event promoted by promoted by Bernardo Manuel Silveira Estrela Shelter.

 The project was implemented by the then Social Work Institute, now the Azores Social Security Institute, on the island of São Miguel in 2011 and, subsequently, extended to the islands of Terceira and Faial. It has covered more than 360 families and is primarily intended to strengthen parental skills, namely the establishment of strategies and rules in relationship between parents and children.

 "This approach is focused on children themselves in which parents explain them the reasons for the establishment of rules, acknowledge and respect their individuality and rights, negotiate through verbal exchanges and make joint decisions with them. The aim is to instil a positive behaviour and inhibit inadequate behaviour," said the Regional Secretary.

 In his speech, Andreia Cardoso stated that "the Regional Government's mission is to connect the community of agents in the area of childhood," joining forces in work to promote quality development in childhood.

 "One of its key strategies is precisely parental education and the availability of resources for parents and other caregivers," said Andreia Cardoso.