The standards presented here, a revision of the standards published in 1975, are intended to serve as uniform, national criteria by which public agencies can develop and assess the adequacy of their foster family services system. Major changes from the earlier standards include reduction of the number of standards, combination of the basic and goal standards to formulate a single standard, development of additional standards, adoption of new terminology, and publication of a separate users' guide. Aspects addressed in the standards are: (1) comprehensive legal base, (2) administration and service support system, (3) planning and review of the foster family services system, (4) staff, (5) prevention of a placement, (6) rights of foster children, their parents, and foster parents, (7) service planning and case review, (8) preplacement, placement, and postplacement services, (9) purchase of services, (10) standards development and licensing, (11) recruitment, selection, and development of foster families, (12) community development, (13) citizen participation, (14) program manual and guide materials, and (15) information systems and case recording. A glossary, usage guide, and cross reference guide are also included. (JMB)