Although 60% of the children served by foster care programs are black, none of the child welfare agencies in New York City are black-controlled. Control of child and family agencies would enable knowledgeable black entrepreneurs to define the kind of services to be delivered and where they are to be placed. In this way, the issues underlying the social problems could also be addressed. Black family agencies would create jobs for blacks, thus building a base for economic development in the black community. Unfortunately, serious impediments to the achievement of these goals exist: lack of capital, scarcity of experienced management, and a diversion of self-development resources into integration efforts. Some measures to overcome these impediments include: (1) information and support centers concerned with development of black agencies across the country, including staff capable of giving technical assistance to potential agency management; (2) legal research to determine what funds could be made available for black controlled agencies and the means by which future control of these monies might be detached from white-controlled boards; (3) improvement of fund raising methods in the black community; (4) heightened commitment by citizens to keep elected officials aware of their community's interests and needs; (5) influence of Title XX funding levels, so that 90% of the funds for family-life preservation would be provided by the government; and (6) a willingness to take the first step. (KR)