Addressing the lack of cooperation between early intervention programs and the rural health community, this monograph presents eight papers by educators and health professionals who identify specific problems and offer solutions in the form of effective collaboration techniques and model programs. Papers by Susan Hastings and Stewart Gabel summarize physician attitudes toward early intervention and suggest ways to obtain physician involvement. Suggestions for improving physicians' cooperation include informing them of intervention program services and convincing them of program validity. Papers by Charlene Rydell and Ruth Jones, Stephanie Parks, Sharon Kiefer, and Mary Morse and Barbara Kruger describe four model early intervention programs which successfully collaborate with local medical professionals and/or community hospitals. Topics include initial planning, program design, coordination with existing services, linkage with hospitals, staff recruitment, funding sources and program effectiveness (increased physician referrals, lower age of new referrals). Papers by Esther Tesh and Sarah Strauss and Kenneth Axtell provide an overview of the administration, organization, and priorities of community hospitals and are intended to help non-medical professionals work within that structure. Information includes functions of 19 hospital staff positions and basic steps to follow when communicating with medical staff concerning a particular child admitted to the hospital. (JHZ)