Nashville, like many other communities, is discovering that the traditional ways of tracking human needs and services is just not enough. The result is a growing commitment to make the transition from a long-standing tradition of episodic needs assessments to a system of continuous monitoring and reporting. During recent months, a small group of community leaders has been working with community psychologists to design an assessment model based on the "lessons learned" from previous local assessment efforts, as well as from other communities. The resulting 10-step model addresses the existing structures and substantive context of the community, and the process itself is designed as an intervention to decrease the numerous barriers to participation and sustainability. This project is a work in progress and we invite your comments and suggestions for improvement.