My dissertation provides three independent studies that, taken together, examine the different mechanisms through which the center-based care environment interacts with parents to provide services and parental involvement activities, and how comprehensive parent components impact the home environment or are associated with child development. The specific research questions answered in this dissertation are: (1) To what extent are parents utilizing services and supports offered or referred by center-based early childhood programs? (2) What characteristics of parents predict usage of supports and services offered through center-based early childhood programs and the community? (3) What characteristics of parents predict parental involvement in children's center-based early childhood programs? (4) To what extent is parental involvement in center-based early childhood programs associated with children's school readiness skills and later development? (5) To what extent is parents' participation in center-based early childhood programs associated with parenting practices? (6) To what extent do the services and supports provided or referred to parents from center-based early childhood programs affect the home environment and parenting practices? (author abstract)