Residential programs for children and youth are increasingly implementing engagement strategies to promote family-centered and family-driven models of care (Leichtman, 2008). The practice of engagement is a fairly new area of research, especially in residential care. Driven by their goal to increase the use of state-of-the-art family engagement and family-centered models of care in members' organizations, the Residential Care Consortium (RCC), a five year-old collaborative of eight private, nonprofit child caring agencies, partnered with Coordinated Care Services, Inc. (CCSI), a not-for-profit management services organization with specific expertise in the areas of behavioral health and human services, to develop a white paper that would make a definitive statement regarding the use of best practices and evidence-based approaches for family-centered care in residential settings. This paper highlights practices of engagement within family-centered or family-driven models of care that are based on at least minimal levels of evidence, and makes recommendations based on the available information. Specifically, this paper proposes that residential facilities: (1) involve parents or guardians in active delivery of care within residential centers; (2) utilize system of care principles, particularly the wraparound approach and transition strategies; (3) integrate standardized assessment tools to identify specific variables that may alter the effect of family engagement strategies or family-centered interventions on outcomes; (4) implement evidence-based strategies that reduce initial barriers; (5) offer family therapy or parenting education to the extent possible; and (6) include parent mentors in the delivery of care. (Contains 5 tables and 1 note.)