 In most advocate-protégé relationships, the advocate's primary role is to provide practical, instrumental support to assist their protégé in getting through the daily business of life.Some advocates assume formal roles as guardians, custodians of a protégé's funds, or making medical and other service-related decisions on behalf of the protégé.In addressing the common wound of segregation from the mainstream of community life, many advocates serve as mentors assisting their protégés to be more actively engaged in community life.