Problem: Parents, particularly those who are young or poor, often have limited sources of support and assistance in child-raising. Welfare programs often serve simply as a safety net once problems have developed. Proposed Solution: Initially, the state of Maryland created a number of centers to help these families. Services are offered to help parents deal with their own futures through education, job training, and substance abuse programs, as well as to help them with the task of child-rearing. The centers allow the observation and evaluation of possible problems that very young children might have far earlier than if the state waited for the children to show up at school. Evaluation: The state is currently evaluating the network of services. The centers seem ot have had some positive effects. They have seen fewer additional pregnancies among teen mothers who use the centers, and have had relatively few problems requiring children to be separated from parents. In addition, many employed parents have been successful in remaining in their jobs. Contact: Rosalie Streett, Executive Director, Friends of the Family, Inc., 1001 Eastern Ave, 2nd floor, Baltimore, MD 21202. Citation: "Innovations in State and Local Government 1991." New York: The Ford Foundation, 1991. pp. 14-15. Keywords: welfare children