The provision of behavior management training for parents and families of children with behavioral and developmental disabilities is a nursing role. Two case studies show the potential usefulness of a newly developed multimedia approach to family training. The features of the innovative approach includea) individualized instruction, extensively utilizing multimedia, based on a thorough evaluation of the patient, family members, and their interaction;b) practical implementation of basic behavioral management principles and the patient's specific behavior management plan;c) healthy familial interactions where family members are able to recognize and meet each other's needs while simultaneously maintaining their own self-esteem; andd) assistance for the family in establishing community support and services.Social interactional theory provides a framework for the above approach to family training. That is, the persistence of effects of behavioral management is a function of how others react to changes in a target child: Unless improvements in behavior produced some alterations in the family's reactions to the child, the effects would be short lived. For this reason, rather than treating the child alone, the parents and other members of the family are trained to manage their own behaviors as they relate to the child's behavior. Indeed, a family and community-centered approach maximizes the effectiveness of care rendered to this vulnerable population.