The Northwest Staff Development Center (NSDC) is a federally funded teacher center serving approximately 3,800 teachers and administrators in seven school districts in northwest Wayne County, Michigan. At its inception in 1978, NSDC faced morale problems caused by massive reductions in force, involuntary reassignments, and school closings. Few incentives existed for teacher participation in professional development activities. NSDC used the Concerns-Based Adoption Model and findings from a Rand Corporation study "Federal Programs Supporting Educational Change" (1975), to shape a developmental, rather than remedial, approach to professional growth. Key elements in the program were: (1) individual requests for service; (2) mini-awards; (3) services provided at building level; (4) district-wide programs; (5) multi-district programs; (6) district/building staff development teams; (7) monthly newsletters; (8) standing committees with teacher and administrator participation; and (9) volunteer building representatives. Collaborative decision making by the policy board was cited by teachers and administrators as a basic strength of the program. The success of the NSDC program can be attributed to several factors, among them its proactive, developmental approach which recognizes the needs of users. (FG)