This paper reports on a 50-state telephone survey on the development of family policies through implementation of Public Law 99-457 (Part H), the 1986 Amendments to the Education of the Handicapped Act with emphasis on policies regarding consent, confidentiality, access to records, and dispute resolution. The survey addressed questions of family involvement in Interagency Coordinating Council activities, how families access the service system, how case management policies affect families, and what policies provide for procedural safeguards. Findings suggested that policies addressing procedural safeguards have been slow to develop with about one-third of the states still without established policies on these issues. State coordinators expressed a desire to minimize potential harm to families as a result of participation in the early intervention system, a concern about negative effects of instituting a process for administrative hearings, and a preference for mediation systems. Also noted was a lack of certainty in some states about their authority to implement policies or enforce compliance from other agencies. Although acceptance of the central role of the family was common, few of these policies have been implemented. Includes 4 references. (DB)