Five case studies tell the story of successful efforts by advocates for children. The focus is on advocacy efforts by those who work outside of government such as parents, attorneys, and other citizens and professionals who are concerned with the plight of children. The advocates have used various strategies including litigation, lobbying, community organizing, and the media. They have forged partnerships with officials inside government and with interest groups such as private service providers and unions to achieve their goals. Advocacy efforts have focused on guaranteeing that poor children have access to health care, assuring the provision of long-term quality child care, and developing community-based services for severely mentally disturbed and violent adolescents. Advocacy efforts have also attempted to guarantee that free and appropriate public education in a regular school setting is afforded disabled children and to reform the juvenile court system to assure fundamental due process for children and their families. 39 references