The city of Rio de Janeiro launched this Sunday (12th), Children’s Day, the Primeira Infância Carioca card, in Vila Olímpica da Maré, north of the capital. The food income transfer program is aimed at families in situations of extreme social vulnerability. 
The benefit will function as a food card worth R$200 per month, delivered directly to families with children up to 4 years of age. The initiative will reach 30 thousand families, with an annual investment of more than R$70 million.
The card is part of the Pequenos Cariocas program, a multidisciplinary protection network to care for the integral development of socially vulnerable children in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The program brings together actions and services in the areas of health, education, social assistance, culture and protection against violence, which allow children access to basic care from the first years of life.
Mayor Eduardo Paes highlighted the importance of public policies aimed at families in vulnerable situations in early childhood. “Scholars say that this pre-school phase is the most important in the lives of our children. It is at this moment that the conditions are formed so that the child up ahead can have a future with more opportunities”, highlighted the mayor.
Paes explained that the city hall observed the families that are in the federal government’s official database. “Families in Rio that are not on Bolsa Família, with children aged 0 to 4, receive this benefit.”
Families selected to receive the Carioca First Childhood Card must meet the following criteria: be registered in the Single Registry (CadÚnico), not receive Bolsa Família, have a monthly family income of up to R$218 per person and children aged 0 to 4 years. It is not necessary to register to receive the benefit. The selection was made by the Municipal Department of Social Assistance (SMAS) based on data from CadÚnico, which guarantees agility and precision in identifying the target audience.
Families will be informed via WhatsApp message about the date, place and time to collect the food card, which can be used in more than 1,500 accredited establishments in the city. Upon receipt, you will need to unlock the card in the responsible company’s application. The amount will be topped up monthly.
Through the Carioca Digital website, families can also check whether they are among those benefiting, simply providing their CPF number.
