To find out more about community-based services, a study was conducted from 1986 to 1988 of over 650 organizations and individuals. Respondents were asked to identify programs providing home-based services, crisis services, and therapeutic foster care to a population of severely emotionally disturbed children. The initial survey resulted in the identification of approximately 200 programs. An extensive questionnaire was then sent to these programs to obtain detailed information about their organization, services, client populations, staffing patterns, costs, and problems encountered. Responses were received from more than 80 programs in 36 States, and several programs were selected for in-depth site visits. It was determined that home-based services should view the family as the most powerful social institution and should support and maintain families whenever possible. Home-based services are provided under the auspices of both public and private agencies and have certain characteristics. They have a family focus, and the family unit is the client. They have an ecological perspective and involve working with the community system to access and coordinate needed services. Hours of service delivery are flexible in order to meet the needs of families, and 24-hour crisis intervention is provided. Home-based services are multifaceted and include counseling and skills training. Staff have small caseloads to permit them to work actively with each family. Program descriptions and profiles of home-based service programs are included. An appendix lists programs responding to the study. 83 references, charts.