During the past two decades, legislation has encouraged the development and implementation of programs intended to serve as alternatives to institutional and foster home care for children and youth. Among these is home-based, family-centered services. This approach recognizes the family as the most powerful social welfare institution. Programs operating under this principle generally involve case managers that establish and maintain a nurturing relationship with the family. The family home is the service setting, and efforts are devoted to solving problems in and through the family system of interaction and community involvement. Maximum use is made of family resources, extended family, and community. Parents are strengthened in their roles as educators, nurturers, and primary care providers. This report discusses applications of home-based, family-centered service in the areas of the characteristics of families served and general problem categories targeted. The discussion of the development of such programs considers public education as a prerequisite to program innovation and implementation, along with staff recruitment, training, and supervision. Methods and procedures for in-home asssessment are also described. Following the presentation of examples of home-based, family-centered service programs throughout the country, evaluative research is summarized to show the strengths and weaknesses of particular programs. Ethical considerations and policy issues are the focus of the concluding chapter. A total of 27 notes are listed.