Developed from the Ohio At-Risk Linkage Team experiences, this guide assists local communities in organizing and strengthening effective collaborative interagency linkage teams for at-risk youth and adults. The guide proposes a series of steps, poses a number of questions relating to each step, and provides information about additional resources. Five planning steps are discussed: (1) assessing the local need and climate for interagency partnerships; (2) getting started--forming a tentative rationale, identifying existing linkages, and developing internal administrative support; (3) forming the team--identifying and selecting the key players and issuing the invitation; (4) establishing a collaborative relationship; (5) developing a plan--creating an effective planning environment, forming an action plan, and developing an agency and community support for the plan; and (6) follow up and follow through--implementing the plan and maintaining momentum. Suggestions for developing linkages include the following: focus on client needs; share information; promote interagency cooperation; exercise patience, persistence, and involvement; and establish common goals, target dates, and subcommittees. Three appendices are included: (1) action plan form; (2) resources for further information; and (3) an evaluation of what's happening in Ohio. (NLA)