Answering the Call: What I’ve Learned from 40 Years of Advocating for Young ChildrenThe Children's Defense Fund, Center for Law and Social Policy, NAEYC, National Women's Law Center, National Black Child Development Institute, and Southern Early Childhood Association have historically supported the training of individuals seeking to become early childhood advocates. New and effective models supported by other associations that focus on advocating for specific aspects of the continuum of high-quality early childhood education are evident through the work of the National Institute for Early Education Research, National Association of Elementary School Principals, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Foundation for Child Development, BUILD Initiative, and others. In certain parts of the country, issues perceived as government encroachment into the authority of the family (such as home visiting programs) are controversial, while in other areas they are viewed as welcome strategies for equalizing opportunities and increasing academic success upon school entry. High school students in civics and American history classes, supervised by their teachers and other school officials, manned tables near county polling places to provide information about voting on the Community 2000 priorities.