THE UNIT IS A COLLABORATIVE, ADVOCACY VENTURE OF ATTORNEYS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS THAT FOCUSES ON THE BEST INTERESTS OF THEIR CHILD CLIENTS, WHILE MAINTAINING A FAMILY ORIENTATION. THE PUBLIC DEFENDER INAUGURATED THE EFFORT FOR CHILDREN WHO WERE IN COURT THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, SUCH AS CHILDREN SUFFERING FROM ABUSE, NEGLECT, MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, OR MENTAL RETARDATION. THE CHILD ADVOCACY UNIT ATTORNEY IS NONADVERSARY WITH RESPECT TO THE PARENTS IN THE PHILOSOPHY THAT CHILDREN BELONG WITH THEIR PARENTS IN THEIR OWN HOMES WITH THEIR SIBLINGS. THE UNIT WORKS ON A FOUR-STAGE PLAN. FIRST, THE SOCIAL SERVICE STAFF INITIATES A DISCOVERY PHASE INVOLVING EXTENSIVE FIELD INTERVIEWS IN THE CHILDREN'S HOMES AND WITH PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED PREVIOUSLY IN THE CASES. SECOND, A SOCIAL SERVICE WORKER DISCUSSES THE FINDINGS WITH A UNIT ATTORNEY TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS. THIRD, THE ATTORNEY REPRESENTS THE CHILDREN AT THE COURT HEARINGS AND COORDINATES THE CASE PRESENTATIONS. FOURTH, THE ATTORNEY AND SOCIAL SERVICE WORKER MONITOR THE DISPOSITIONS AND PROVIDE ONGOING CONSULTATIONS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE CHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS. THUS, THE DUAL NEEDS OF LEGAL KNOWLEDGE AND TREATMENT ARE SERVED IN EACH CASE. TWO CASE HISTORIES EXEMPLIFY THE INTERACTION OF THE ATTORNEYS AND THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN THIS FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND PROJECT, AND FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.