2019-04-262019-04-262009GONTIJO, Daniela Tavares; MEDEIROS, Marcelo. Crianças e adolescentes em situação de rua: contribuições para a compreensão dos processos de vulnerabilidade e desfiliação social. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, Rio de Janeiro, v. 14, n. 2, p. 467-475, 2009.e- 1678-4561http://repositorio.bc.ufg.br/handle/ri/17469The concept of vulnerability is being discussed in the public health area as a potential tool toward the transformation of the health practices for allowing an articulation individual-community. Understanding health as a process of subjectivation determined by social, cultural and historical contexts, this article aims to approach the question children and adolescents in street situation on the basis of the concept of civil vulnerability, using the theoretical background presented by Robert Castel. This author understands the social marginalization lived by different individuals and social groups in a dynamic form, determined by the association of work and social insertion. As refers to children and adolescents in street situation, we believe that they are reflecting a process of intensified vulnerability (culminating in disaffiliation) to which thousands of Brazilian families are subject due to the extreme social inequalities in our country. We hope that our theoretical discussion will be able to contribute to the development of a theoretical reference in public health and to the planning and implementation of health actions directed to this population.porAcesso AbertoVulnerabilidadeRisco social/pessoalCrianças e adolescentesSaúde coletivaVulnerabilityPersonal/social riskChildren and adolescentsPublic healthArtigo10.1590/S1413-81232009000200015