- P40 -

202 8329400 A Neighborhoodbased Support System Facilitating the Development of aCommunitybased Collaborative Effort A Neighborhoodbased Support System Facilitating the Development of a Communitybased Collaborative Effort Strengthening Families Building Vibrant Communities in Washington DC Since 1996 EBFSC is one of five neighborhoodbased collaboratives in the District of Columbia which make up the citywide Healthy Families Thriving Communities Collaborative network. EBFSC has been in existence since 1996 when a partnership consisting of residents and neighborhoodbased organizations received a planning grant from the DC Child and Family Services Agency CFSA. The planning grant facilitated the development of a communitybased collaborative effort to design and implement a neighborhoodbased family support system. After a year of planning EBFSC opened its first Family Support Center in Brookland Manor in 1997 and began formally serving families.