When families enroll in an early childhood program, it is usually the first time they have daily shared their child's basic care with anyone outside of the family. Their most basic hope is that early childhood staff will care for their child as the staff would their own. There are many ways to nurture children and assist growing families. In this article, the author recommends to use family referrals as one particular strategy. Early childhood staff is in a unique--even critical--position to support families with referrals. They are valuable tools of the trade that should not be overlooked or underestimated. However, the types of referrals a family may need are as diverse as the people the staff serve. The staff's awareness of a family's need for a referral vary as well. The author suggests that learning to give "on-target" referrals is one of the best ways for the staff to professionally advocate for the needs, rights, and well-being of children and all those who care for them. She also presents the fundamentals to follow. (Contains 7 resources.)