Presentation

CrescerSer is a Private Institution of Social Solidarity with a national scope, born in 1986.

How?

7 Temporary Shelter Centers were created, divided between children from 0 to 12 years old, boys from 12 to 18 years old, and recently, for young girls.

For Who?

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN DANGER
Children and young people deprived of their family environment, victims of violence, etc.


Goals

Promote, organize and streamline community services to support children, young people and family within society.
Stimulate specialized training in the areas of protection, refuge and monitoring, for technicians linked to the issue of children and young people in danger.


Our story

The Associação Portuguesa para o Direito dos Menores e da Família (Portuguese Association for Minors and Family Law) was created in 1986 by a group of magistrates who felt the need to take further the protection of minors.

In 1989, the 1st House was created, with the awareness of the Municipality of Oeiras, which had an initial capacity for 10 children. Changing facilities in 1997 to a house built from scratch by the same Municipality, now hosting a total of 14 children aged from 0 to 12 years old, called “Casa do Parque”. The 2nd House in Cascais, “Casa da Encosta”, is born for a total of 12 children, also in the same age group as the previous one, donated and built from scratch by the Municipality of Cascais.

In 1994, “Casa do Infantado” appeared, installed in an apartment provided by the Municipality of Loures, with capacity for 12 children from 0 to 12 years old. In 1996, the first House in the north of the country was built, located in Cedofeita, provided by Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Porto, with capacity for 10 children, aged 0 to 12 years, called “Casa de Cedofeita”.
In 2004, APDMF-CrescerSer created a new project, with the aim of welcoming young people from 12 to 18 years old, when 2 more Welcome Centers were created for teenagers: in Porto, “Casa do Vale”, with capacity for 13 young males; in Lisbon, the "Casa das Amoreiras" provided by the Institute of Solidarity and Social Security, with capacity for 8 young men, which in 2005 changes its premises to a house provided by the Municipality of Lisbon, with capacity for 10 young people, the “Casa da Ameixoeira”. In 2007, a new reception center was built in Chão de Couce (Ansião – Leiria) with capacity for 23 young females, called “Casa do Canto”.

The children/young people welcomed by Associação CrescerSer are victims of mistreatment, deprived of a family environment; with severe mental health problems; victims of sexual abuse and infectious diseases. It is necessary in good time to promote their deinstitutionalization with quality and safety, either for family integration, whenever possible (extended family, grandparents, uncles, etc.), national or international adoption, or for a situation of autonomy of life.

Casa da Ameixoeira closed on 06/30 (future changes of premises)

Mission, vision and values

Promote and publicize the rights of Children and Young People. Welcoming abused children and putting their life project and autonomy into perspective with them and their families
We imagine a world where all Children and Young People have all their Rights recognized and guaranteed.
Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Children and Young People;
Pursuing the Best Interest of each Child/Youth;
Give priority to the family solution by promoting Positive Parenting;
Respect the useful time of the Child and Youth;
Ensuring the quality of care for each child/young person;
Promote innovative and creative solutions in favor of Children/Youth;
Promotion of Autonomy and Community Insertion of Children/Young People;
Promote openness to the community and contribute to social development.