The paper discusses the rationale and guidelines for parent involvement in HCEEP (Handicapped Children's Early Education Program) projects. Ways of assessing parents' needs are reviewed, as are four types of services to meet the identified needs: parent education, direct participation, parent counseling, and parent provided programs. Materials and approaches are recommended for each of the four delivery types. The parent education approach is considered in terms of teaching parents to participate in individualized education program planning, and providing information on such topics as normal growth and development and special skills needed to provide care for their child. The description of the direct participation approach focuses on work with fathers, and new approaches such as the Portage Project. Parent counseling emphasizes coping patterns and lists criteria for successful counseling. Parent organizations and parent to parent programs are sources of parent provided programs. A section on evaluation of parent involvement programs touches on ways to measure parent satisfaction; program effectiveness; changes in parent knowledge, skills, and attitudes; and the degree to which services are used. (CL)