Governors' Children's Cabinets are collaborative governance structures that seek to promote coordination across state agencies and improve the well-being of children and families. A strong and effective Children's Cabinet can improve coordination and efficiency across state departments and local levels of government; mobilize resources around the governor's priorities for children; facilitate a holistic approach to serving children; and strengthen partnerships with the non-profit and private sectors. Governors are faced with myriad choices in designing their Cabinets, appointing members, and otherwise tasking their Cabinets with improving child and family outcomes in their states. This Guide is designed to serve as a road map for governors and their staffs interested in designing their own successful Governor's Children's Cabinets. The content summarized in the Guide is drawn from the experiences of existing Children's Cabinets, including case studies of two long-standing Cabinets in Louisiana and West Virginia. This document discusses: (1) Basic Concepts of Children's Cabinets; (2) Nuts and Bolts for Building Children's Cabinets; and (3)Guiding Principles for Children's Cabinets. (Contains 41 notes.) ["A Governor's Guide to Children's Cabinets" was written with Anna Lovejoy.]