Sometimes children need advocates other than their parents, and this is a field in which government and philanthropy are often partners. Friends of Children began in 1988 as a fundraising entity for local children's programs. Its focus shifted to child advocacy following the State's closing of its child advocacy agency, the Office for Children, in 1990. Today, FoC is the only philanthropic agency in western Massachusetts whose sole focus is child advocacy. Franklin and Berkshire counties have the highest per capita rates of physical and social child abuse in the State. Since 1990 FoC has helped more than 6,300 special needs, abused, and neglected children and their families. Its CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program trains volunteers to represent these children in court and to ensure that when they do return home, they will be safe. Last year, 39 CASA volunteers provided 30,000 hours advocating for 106 children. Since it began, FoC has also trained over 200 volunteer Guardians ad Litem for nearly 800 children. A unique new program, the Adolescent Advocacy Mentoring Project, will help prepare foster kids ages 15 and older, who will age-out of the system at 18, to become independent adults. Friends of Children needs statewide support; please consider helping them protect children.