This manual is intended to be used in conjunction with a 1-day training workshop to help parents of children with emotional disorders establish working alliances with protection and advocacy agencies for people with mental illness (PAMIs). The workshop prepares parents for developing specific plans for forging alliances with the state PAMI. The first chapter reviews services for children with emotional disorders from 1850 to the present, concluding that community programs are more effective than institutional programs. The second chapter discusses Public Law 99-319, the Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Act of 1986, including the role of the developmental assistance and protection and advocacy (DD-P&A) agencies, provisions and specific requirements of PL 99-319, and results of a survey investigating the potential impact of PL 99-319 on children. Chapter three provides an assessment of current P&E activity with six worksheets designed to help parents assess agency activities. Chapter four focuses on forging alliance with emphasis on P&A limitations and parent strategies including requesting direct services and forging organization-to-organization alliances. Appended is the text of PL 99-319 and names and addresses of four resources for parents. (DB)