The total number of births to adolescent mothers fell from 98.203 to 60.902 cases over this three-year period. This decline aligns with the implementation of a unified intersectoral strategy known as Atrapasueños, which replaced a previously fragmented approach to child and adolescent welfare.
The Shift to the Atrapasueños Strategy
Historically, institutional support for Colombian youth was split across multiple disconnected programs. To address this, the Directorate of Children and Adolescents centralized these efforts into the Atrapasueños Intersectoral Strategy. Government figures show that the initiative expanded physical infrastructure from five received Sacúdete centers in 2022 to 36 fully equipped Atrapasueños Houses. Between 2023 and 2026, the Directorate recorded 584.512 total interactions with minors across its various care modalities.
The strategy operates through three main delivery models: Atrapasueños Houses, Community Spaces, and Community Experiences. These programs use art, culture, sport, and technology to engage children and teenagers between the ages of six and 18. According to official reports, the 36 active houses—spread across 23 departments and 35 municipalities—provided direct care to 23.755 minors between 2023 and 2026. Additionally, Community Spaces reached 188.167 participants across 681 municipalities, while Community Experiences engaged 168.618 minors through a network of 2.119 grassroots organizations operating in 381 municipalities.
Direct Contracting and Community Networks
A significant change in the administration of these programs involved shifting away from third-party outsourcing. The Directorate of Children and Adolescents moved to direct hiring, bringing on 263 professionals for Atrapasueños Houses, 78 for Community Spaces, and 94 for Inclusion Support Centers. This restructuring aimed to reduce intermediaries and secure stable institutional presence in rural and conflict-affected areas.
The program also incorporated grassroots organizations into a formal protection network. This coordination allowed state resources to reach remote rural regions where institutional presence was previously minimal. Furthermore, the Inclusion Support Centers (CAI) utilized fixed locations and mobile teams to assist children and adolescents with disabilities across 44 and 104 municipalities respectively, prioritizing family and community integration over institutionalization.
Regional Implementation and Measurable Outcomes
Regional rollouts tailored specific frameworks to vulnerable populations. In La Guajira, the Comprehensive Care Model (MAI) focused on the Wayuu indigenous community, reaching 78.478 children and adolescents between 2025 and 2026. Nationwide, the strategy established comprehensive care programs in 877 municipalities and achieved a 90 % coverage rate across the 426 municipalities prioritized by the National Development Plan (PND), meeting 96 % of its PND care targets.
Official figures also indicate progress in mitigating child labor. Government data notes a reduction of 67.863 working children and adolescents in 2025 compared to 2022, representing a 0.6 percentage point decrease nationally and a 1.9 percentage point drop in rural areas. While the administration leaves nine additional houses in various stages of development—including in Buenaventura, Leticia, and Santander de Quilichao—the foundational architecture of the Atrapasueños strategy remains the primary mechanism for youth protection established during this period.
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