AbstractDecategorization is a process of restructuring funding sources and services to encourage interagency collaboration, out‐of‐home placement prevention, and innovative programming driven by needs of families as opposed to bureaucratic contingencies. In this study a community needs assessment survey was used as one of the first steps in decategorization program planning. The survey assessed the most serious problems, the priorities for tax dollar support, and the service needs in a county beginning decategorization of child welfare services. Methods, results, and implications are discussed and compared to other types of data available about needs of the residents of the county as a model for other communities that may be undertaking decategorization projects or other large‐scale planning ef