Over the past several decades, the early intervention (EI) model for families of deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) children has evolved from deficit-based and child-centered to strengths-based and family-centered. The family-centered early intervention (FCEI) model is based on family-systems theory, which emphasizes the central role parents play in children's development. In family-systems theory, families do not function "in a vacuum," but within larger social systems (e.g., cultural and linguistic communities and extended family). The goal of FCEI is to develop parents' sense of self-efficacy, the competence and confidence to positively affect their child's development. While the historical model of child-centered EI had the practitioner working solely with the child, FCEI now focuses on engaging parents, other family, and caregivers, and addressing the importance of social support as part of intervention. Importantly, this support includes connecting families of DHH children with each other and with DHH adults. In the FCEI model, parents and providers work together to identify the information, resources, and connections that parents need to make informed decisions about important issues (e.g., communication and assistive technology).