&NA;Early intervention clinicians must be adept at working with families from all backgrounds. Sometimes they encounter families with mental illness or mental health disorders. In these situations it is crucial to carefully apply the principles of family‐centered care that would be utilized with all families. Many families with mental health challenges enter the early intervention system with well‐founded fears that they will be viewed with suspicion by clinicians. Some modifications and accommodations of best practices in family‐centered care can be useful in ensuring that a trusting relationship between families and early intervention staff is established and maintained over time.