The Family Support Act of 1988 (FSA) provides a means by which federal, state, and local governments can work systematically and comprehensively to provide the support people need to escape poverty. The act mandates that appropriate educational services be made available to at least some welfare recipients as part of the effort to help those receiving public assistance become self-supporting. The document: (1) highlights aspects of the FSA that are relevant to both the education and the public welfare communities; (2) describes the opportunities that FSA offers for both systems to meet their own and shared goals for populations at risk; (3) emphasizes the importance and benefits of collaboration between education and the human services in the implementation of FSA; and (4) offers suggestions that may abet the implementation process. Appended are a summary of the major provisions of the FSA, an overview of the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program, resources for additional information and assistance, and a reference list. (RH)