This paper describes the Winnebago County (Wisconsin) Community Options Program, begun in January, 1982, which provides for a comprehensive assessment of all elderly persons within the target area who are at risk of becoming institutionalized. The paper focuses on the planning activities for the first year of the pilot program including community inputs into design of the program, the process of involving community agencies at the start-up, and priorities set for client intake. The paper explicates the evolution of the assessment instrument for determining eligibility in the program and its use during the first year, and describes the service directory developed for client and agency use. Prototype case histories are offered from the 130 clients who had been served; in nearly one-half of the cases serviced, family members contracted for and provided in-home services out of program funds. As a result of needs brought to the forefront by the program, one new day care service was initiated through an institutional base (nursing home) and two others were projected. In addition, a private entrepreneur developed a for-fee service to match persons needing employment with older clients needing chore service. The program is conceived of as adjunct to an already well-established base of in-home services to elderly in the county. (Author/LLL)