Advocacy, Child

Nancy W. Hall

Because children are seldom able to act for themselves in legislative and regulatory arenas, the need exists for adults to advocate for them. Advocates for children are those who press for reforms that will result in better lives for children or for the maintenance of the status quo in areas in which children are being well served by existing policies and practices. Advocates can be individuals or groups, formal agencies, or grassroots coalitions, and they can operate on any level—federal, state, or local—at which decisions regarding policies and practices affecting children and families are made. They might work alone or in collaboration with other advocates. They might be concerned with a single issue or with the overall wellbeing of children. Changes in the ways governments, schools, or businesses operate with respect to the needs of children and families are rarely implemented in the absence of advocacy. This entry describes the ...

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