The discussion highlights the family-centered service approach, which encompasses family support services for families coping with the normal stresses of parenting, as well as family preservation services designed to help families experiencing serious problems and possible placement of the child out of the home. The analysis notes that family support problems are often guided by social support and stress theory and take a public health approach to service delivery. They may convene peer support groups; offer educational programs such as training in parenting skills or child development; and organize social and learning experiences for young children, adolescents, and parents. The limited data available from evaluations suggest that family support programs have inconsistent effects both on children's development and on family functioning. Studies of family preservation programs have produced mixed results and suggest that while family preservation services have some value, they should not be regarded as a panacea for problems in the child protective system. New efforts in family-centered services focus on service planning and design by involving a wide range of community groups in child welfare planning and decision-making or by developing ongoing partnerships with allied child-serving systems to ensure a full continuum of services. Photographs, charts, and 70 references (Author abstract modified)