The service delivery model of the Pennsylvania Children and Adolescent Service Systems Program (CASSP) is explained, and the 1983 federal initiative that launched this system is discussed. The federal CASSP initiative was developed to improve systems of care to ensure that the underserved population of children and adolescents with severe emotional disturbances had access to and received a range of services to meet their multiple needs. The goal of the initiative was to develop, at the local level, a well-coordinated system of care. The following materials from the Pennsylvania CASSP are provided: examples of completed interagency team service plans; brochures describing CASSP and family-based mental health services of Pennsylvania; eligibility and referral procedures; a referral form; a release of information form; a form to provide summaries of the child's background and mental health problems; a description of the Potter County Human Services CASSP; a list of values and principles for the system of care; and a list of components of the system of care, including mental health services, social services, educational services, health services, vocational services, recreational services, and operational services. Contains eight references. (SW)