The Urban Institute There are 45,000 nonprofit service providers and child advocacy organizations in this country. That comes down to one for every 1,300 children. Yet, this book claims, there is no agreement on what the needs of children are or what ought to be done about them. In June 1996, there was a Stand For Children Rally in Washington, DC. Time magazine ran a cover story on it and asked why there was so little public concern about American children. Marian Edelman, president of the Children’s Defense Fund, predicted that the rally would be the first step in a nationwide mobilization for children. It has not happened. This book tries to figure out why and what to do about it. It selects a variety of advocacy organizations, traces their history, discusses the problems they met, and what strategies they employed. Funding sources are carefully delineated and described. The material is well presented, documented, and presents a persuasive case for its suggestions. Administrators, staff members, and child advocates can benefit from a careful reading of this book. Also anyone who is a bit frustrated about policies and practices in addressing the needs of children can profit from this book. It may take a person who is concerned with organizations, organizational systems, and what works and does not work to move associations and reach the goals and concerns of the group. But for those with such a skill, this is a helpful book. There is nothing like it to my knowledge. Reviewed by Ralph Underwager, Institute for Psychological Therapies.
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