Based on the argument that until the late twentieth century it was not possible to recognize, in the Brazilian context, the existence of a nationwide mental health policy for children and adolescents (MHCA), this paper analyses the historical determinants of the late onset of mental health initiatives for children and adolescents in the public health agenda in Brazil. In this regard, two priorities of the National Health System (SUS), both established from the beginning of 2000's, are identified and discussed: the implementation of Community Psychosocial Care Centers (known by the Portuguese acronym CAPSi) and the development of collaborative care within the health sector and through multiagency collaboration, especially involving educational, forensic/advocacy and social assistance sectors. The CAPSi implementation and the multiagency collaboration are the main actions to achieve the establishment of a public mental health care network for children and adolescents, community-based, able to receive the multiplicity of MHCA problems and to assure the access to mental health services.
child and adolescent; mental health; community mental health services; multiagency collaboration; public agenda