Family-centered services: Service providers' discourse and behavior

The purpose of this study was to examine family-centered practice in terms of six service providers' philosophies and behaviors. Six professionals fro m a pool of 43 service providers were identified as matching the practices and philosophies identified in the literature as family centered. These pro viders and some of the families they served were interviewed. Five underlyi ng components of family-centered services were identified: positiveness, re sponsiveness, orientation to the whole family, friendliness, and sensitivit y. Moreover, these service providers displayed skills with children and com munities. Understanding these features of high-quality service provision ex pands our understanding of family centeredness and establishes a basis for policy, training, and service recommendations.