IMPROVING THE LIFE PROSPECTS OF CHILDREN - A COMMUNITY SYSTEMS-APPROACH

Community systems refers to a collaborative initiative underway in Ont ario to involve neighbourhood residents, broad community networks, lev els of government, and nongovernmental organizations in the support of children and families. The initiative's goal is to improve the well-b eing of children, youth, and their families by finding ways to use all available resources-private, public, and voluntary-to best effect. Th is article describes the initiative's origins and core concepts, and t he steps for putting it into place. It compares the community systems approach with traditional approaches and identifies implications of sh ifting from one to the other.