Residential, familial, and recreational patterns of contemporary U.S. society tend to isolate the young from the old. Sensitivity to this isolation has prompted many human service agencies to seek ways to promote opportunities for constructive and ongoing interactions involving children and older persons. This paper provides insights and descriptions of the development of intergenerational programs. It addresses the following questions: What are intergenerational programs? What needs can they meet? What are some of the basic steps in their creation? and What are some of the characteristics of successful programs? (BT)