Massachusetts Advocates for Children is a child advocacy organization whose mission is to be an independent and effective voice for children who face significant barriers to equal educational and life opportunities. MAC works to overcome these barriers by changing conditions for many children, while also helping one child at a time. For nearly 40 years, MAC has responded to the needs of children who are vulnerable because of poverty, race, limited English or disability. MAC's vision is that all these children should have full access to the services and resources to which they are entitled, particularly in the areas of public and special education, health and welfare and legal representation. MAC uses a broad range of strategies to get results and change the conditions which limit children's opportunities. These strategies include building coalitions, helping empower parents and community leaders, providing technical assistance and training, preparing policy analyses, advocating at the administrative and legislative levels, and when necessary, litigating. MAC acts to hold public institutions accountable and prioritizes systems change in order to have the greatest impact affecting the most children. But through its intake and case advocacy, MAC also works to assure that the needs of individual children are met.