This forum suggests the initiation of a federally funded National System of Child Advocacy including a presidentially-appointed council to recommend legislation, provide for and report on the welfare and progress of children. The national council, composed of parents as well as professionals, would support neighborhood child advocate councils by providing funding and acting as national spokesmen. The advocate himself would be an empathetic administrator with access to social, economic, and legal resources. He would work to secure the individual child's basic needs through his staff of professionals and lay volunteers. An advocate might specifically concentrate on strengthening parental concern, securing basic child rights in the school, improving relationships with law enforcers, courts, and working with other child care agencies. The National Council would establish an information center for classifying materials on child care problems. A pilot program to establish guidelines would be a first step towards an advocacy program. (AJ)