This monograph articulates eight key elements of a family-centered approach to policy and practice for children needing specialized health and developmental services. An introductory section reviews the development of the first edition of the monograph in 1987 and its widespread dissemination and acceptance since that time. Each of the following eight chapters then addresses one of the following elements: (1) recognition that the family is the constant in the child's life, while the service systems and support personnel within those systems fluctuate; (2) facilitation of family/professional collaboration at all levels of hospital, home, and community care; (3) exchange of complete and unbiased information between families and professionals in a supportive manner; (4) respect for cultural diversity within and across all families including ethnic, racial, spiritual, social, economic, educational, and geographic diversity; (5) recognition of different methods of coping and promotion of programs providing developmental, educational, emotional, environmental, and financial supports to families; (6) encouragement of family-to-family support and networking; (7) provision of hospital, home, and community service and support systems that are flexible, accessible, and comprehensive in meeting family-identified needs; and (8) appreciation of families as families, recognizing their wide range of strengths, concerns, emotions, and aspirations beyond their need for specialized health and developmental services and support. Checklists for evaluating these elements are attached. (Contains 160 references.) (DB)