The Jewish Board of Guardians, in collaboration with the Agency for Child Development, developed a program to respond to the complex mental health concerns of children in day care, their families and the communities in which they live. The program includes on-site consultation, staff development sessions and paraprofessional training. In this paper, the following critical issues in program development are explored: (1) The drive by consumers for participation in the decision making process, (2) Parental pressures for early acquisition of cognitive skills, (3) Credentialling in the field of human services and the provision of alternative educational routes for new professionals, and (4) The relevancy of child development and sociological theories. An assertion is made that a professional white mental health agency with a knowledge of child growth and development growing out of years of practice and research has a significant contribution to make to institutions that serve minority children and their families. (CS)