This article presents information on a development program for women. The program is described in two parts; one dealing with the development of community self-help programs, the other with the struggle for change within the mental health system. Women have traditionally been the major recipients of service from mental health practitioners. When the Edison-Metuchen Community Focus Team, an outreach unit of professional social workers, psychologists, nurses and psychiatrists of the Rutgers Community Mental Health Center, opened its doors in November 1974, it quickly became apparent that this tradition would persist and that women would be the largest client population. The community self-help portion of the work got its initial impetus from the large number of women who were reaching out to the center for help. The women social workers on the community focus team found that the process of change sharpened their understanding of women. They have developed a greater sensitivity in looking at diagnosis and treatment.