The Family to Family initiative has encouraged states to reconceptualize, redesign, and reconstruct their foster care systems. By 1996, the initiative was being implemented in five states, five Georgia counties, and Los Angeles County, California. This paper describes an approach for nontraditional partnerships that work to rebuild the foster care system through interventions designed to create basic connections in neighborhoods. Working with the natural helpers who already exist within communities promotes selfsufficiency and draws on the unique strengths, values, and needs of the people involved. The role of the natural helper is particularly important where issues of child safety are concerned. The paper offers some specific suggestions for the work of natural helpers in partnership with professionals in the community. Four appendixes contain a chart conceptualizing neighborhood self-actualization, a functional resource assessment for families, checklists of activities to be provided by natural helpers and professionals, and a family progress summary sheet. (Contains 17 references.) (SLD)