Do public neighborhood centers have the capacity to be instruments of change in human services?

This article examines the capacity of public neighborhood centers to be instruments of change in human services. The authors focus specifically on the centers' ability to perform critical leadership functions in social planning and locality development. Data presented in the article were gathered through an independent study of 45 public neighborhood centers in Central Florida. Study findings indicate that public neighborhood centers tend to reflect the characteristics of static rather than dynamic organizations. Major adjustments in their goals, funding, technology, decision making, and performance will be needed before public officials can count on them to lead innovations in social planning and locality development.