This publication discusses the use of risk strategy for the organization and management of health care services for mothers and children. Individuals and groups with an increased expectation of complications or disease are defined as being "at risk" and the aim of the health services should be to identify them as early as possible and to intervene in order to reduce the risk. Specific components of this approach are described in some detail. These include (1) identification of characteristics of women and children associated with increased risk of undesirable outcomes, (2) development of methods for detecting at-risk individuals in local conditions, (3) training of health care personnel in these methods, and (4) provision of methods to prevent or ameliorate undesired outcomes. An example is given of a decision pathway--a possible approach to the selection of intervention strategies based on defined outcomes, risk factors, resources, constraints and manpower availability. Also included are a list of the basic components of a health information system and a brief discussion of the field testing of local risk strategies. Appendices give further examples of risk factors, scoring systems for assessing risk, and intervention strategies; notes on resource allocation and evaluation methods; and examples of ways to expand general program objectives. (Author/JMB)