In early 1966, the Denver Department of Health and Hospitals embarked on a city-wide, decentralized health program in an effort to provide family centered "team" health care to medically indigent patients. The program encompasses 28 different clinics and facilities. Factors hindering or influencing the final pattern of health care delivery include: (1) federal funding agencies' guidelines and biases; (2) grossly underestimated health care demands by an unlimited population load; (3) differences among family members for facility, hours of service, and health care provider; and (4) difficulties in the recruitment of scarce health professionals. After experimenting with many different patterns of team care and leadership, a workable model emerged using the combination of a neighborhood aide and a backup social worker as the basic core for family-centered health care. The social worker is responsible for forming a flexible "Health Team" to meet the needs of a particular family. A central social service register, decentralization of personnel, and constant administrative support are essential. (Author)