This report details characteristics of 50 family care programs that provide comprehensive, individualized services to families struggling with various problems, as well as services that allow parents and children to continue living together in supervised living arrangements for extended periods. Data were collected through in-depth telephone interviews with staff supplemented with site visits. The report, intended as a resource for practitioners and policymakers, describes family care programs' daily operations and the elements differentiating them from other social services. The report explores the origins of family care, those whom the program serves, types of living arrangements, lengths of stay, the services offered, and aftercare approaches, illustrating each discussion with examples and quotes from program staff. The report highlights program elements found to make family care programs effective, including comprehensive services, longer treatment timelines and aftercare procedures, priority given to children's safety, an accepting yet demanding treatment environment, staff quality, and active peer support among residents. Also noted are the significant challenges in evaluating the effectiveness of family care programs, and evidence of women's enhanced participation in education and employment, decreased homelessness, increased self-esteem, and decreased depression and stress. Highlighting evidence of the positive impact of family care on children involved in such programs, the report concludes with recommendations for enlarging the impact of family care. Five appendices include a description of the study's methodology, one-page program summaries for all the programs surveyed, and a selective annotated bibliography on family care and related issues. Contains approximately 50 references. (KB)