The booklet explains ten principles of family-centered health care and six components of community based programs for children with significant medical problems. The principles are: The child and the family have basic rights of self-determination and autonomy. Health care services should be family oriented and maximize family control. Service systems should be community based. Services should be comprehensive and coordinated. Service systems should be accessible and responsive to children with special health care needs and their families. Parents should be early and continuous participants in the long-range planning for their children. Parents should be equal partners with professionals in the care of their children. Normal patterns of living in the home and community should be encouraged. Support services needed to care for children at home should be adequately funded. Families should help shape policies and procedures that affect health care delivery. Components of community-based programs include: increasing professional, family, and community capability; development of a service plan for the child and family through contract negotiation between families and providers; coordination of a plan for care at home; comprehensive service systems with a full continuum of services; quality assurance of services; a child home health care agenda at federal, state, and local levels. (DB)