FAMILY ADVOCACY IS AN INTERVENTION CONCEPT THAT ADDRESSES EVERYDAY PROBLEMS OF FAMILIES. BY WORKING TO ASSURE ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES (HOUSING, HEALTH, CHILD CARE, EDUCATION, WELFARE AND LEGAL SERVICES), FAMILY ADVOCACY REPRESENTS AN EFFORT TO CHANGE THE ECOLOGICAL SETTING FOR CHILD REARING AND TO FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTIONING OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS. ADVOCACY IS DISTINGUISHED FROM SOCIAL CASE WORK BY AN ORIENTATION TO DIRECT PROVISION OF HELP RATHER THAN C0UNSELING. PRINCIPAL TOOLS USED BY ADVOCATES ARE DIRECT AND INTENSIVE CONTACT WITH FAMILIES AT THE TIME OF REFERRAL THROUGH HOME VISITS, TELEPHONE CONTACTS, AND OFFICE ACCESSIBILITY; KNOWLEDGE OF THE PEOPLE, POLICIES, AND SYSTEMS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST BOTH FAMILIES AND ADVOCATES IN RESOLVING PROBLEMS AFFECTING FAMILIES; AND DATA AND INFORMATION COLLECTED IN THE COURSE OF HELPING FAMILIES. IN THIS STUDY, MATERNAL INTERVIEWS AND CLINICAL DATA WERE OBTAINED FROM 303 INPATIENTS AND 257 OUTPATIENTS AT THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER IN BOSTON, MASS. THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CASES AND CONTROLS IN SUMMATIVE INDEXES OF ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS, INCLUDING HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES. OF 121 MOTHERS WHO USED ADVOCACY, 62 WERE PARENTS OF MALADJUSTED CHILDREN, INCLUDING 10 CASES OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL CORRELATES AND PEDIATRIC SOCIAL ILLNESS ARGUE FOR A BROAD ECOLOGICAL CONCEPT OF CAUSES FOR SUCH ILLNESS AND FOR A WIDE RANGE OF PREVENTIVE APPROACHES. THE FAMILY ADVOCACY CONCEPT OF ADDRESSING STRESS ISSUES AND UTILIZING COMMUNITY-BASED INDIVIDUALS IS SUPPORTED BY THE PREVALENCE OF REQUESTS FOR ADVOCACY SERVICES IN INPATIENT CASES OF ABUSE (38 PERCENT) AND INGESTIONS (38 PERCENT) VERSUS CONTROLS (14 PERCENT). SUPPORTING DATA, CASE EXAMPLES, AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)