In promoting such cooperation and cultural sensitivity, the kit advises that the evidence is unequivocal that when youth and families are not a part of policymaking, planning, and program design, and when cultural issues are overlooked, available services are ineffective. The kit specifies the specific ways in which family involvement and cultural competence serve the goals of demonstration programs intended to help children, youth, and families. In one section of the kit, barriers to building partnerships between families and professionals are identified and proven strategies for addressing these barriers are described. The characteristics of effective family involvement in projects intended to help the family are outlined. First, providers communicate and share complete information with families in a manner that is practical, nonblaming, affirming, and constructive. Second, communication and planning emphasizes the strengths and assets of families, their neighborhoods, and communities in the promotion of competency and independence. Third, family members of children receiving services are fully included at the service, program, and system levels of all service system activities. Fourth, services are family-centered, as they support and assist families in their natural role as the primary caretakers of their children. Fifth, agency and organization governance structures promote inclusion of family members as key informants and full partners in program/system design and improvement. The kit also describes attributes of providers and systems that use culturally competent practices. This includes learning as much as possible about an individual's or family's culture; seeking neighborhood and community involvement, including community cultural leaders; incorporating the role of natural helpers from the individual's culture; and the tailoring of services to cultural traditions that relate to gender and age. The kit concludes with a three-step approach for addressing some common pitfalls in developing family and cultural partnerships. Appended tools and instruments, four case studies, a list of 20 annotated resources, and 36 notes