The system of interrelationships that develop between discrete service programs to enrich and enhance each other and to provide fully, more comprehensive service to the consumer.

The development of inter-agency connections that bring more available resources more readily to the consumer in need of services. Linkages may include such diverse approaches as:

• Interagency referral agreements;
• Consortium agreements among agencies to provide services in one location easily accessible to the consumer;
• Consolidation of two or more agencies into one service deliver agency;
• Merger of one agency with another to improve services through possible reduction in overhead costs.