LAUNCHING A FAMILY-CENTERED, NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED HUMAN-SERVICES SYSTEM- LESSONS FROM WORKING THE HALLWAYS AND STREET CORNERS

The author describes Contra Costa County's efforts to implement Health y Families 2000, the County's vision of neighborhood-based, family-cen tered, comprehensive integrated services in two of the county's uninco rporated areas, North Richmond and Bay Point. Contra Costa County is o ne of six bay area counties, northeast of San Francisco. It has nearly 800,000 residents and is home to some of the wealthiest communities i n the state as well as some of the poorest neighborhoods. This article provides a systematic review of the process and a discussion of the o perating practices and principles guiding Contra Costa's significant e ffort to change its service delivery approach, anticipating that this experience might be helpful to others as they develop a neighborhood-b ased human services partnership with community leaders and residents.