THE TRAINING SESSIONS WERE CONDUCTED PRIMARILY FOR STATE PLANNING AGENCY (SPA), REGIONAL PLANNING UNIT (RPA), AND REGIONAL OFFICE PERSONNEL. COMMENTARY IS PROVIDED ON THREE AREAS FOR EACH STEP OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA) PLANNING: CONCEPTS, INCLUDING DEFINITIONS OF TA, AND HOW ITS FUNCTION RELATES TO OTHER SPA ROLES; TECHNIQUES FOR ASSESSING NEEDS AND IDENTIFYING RESOURCES, MATCHING NEEDS AND RESOURCES, DEVELOPING AN ACTION PLAN, AND STRUCTURING A DELIVERY SYSTEM; AND MECHANICS, INCLUDING FORMATS, INSTRUMENTS, CHECKLISTS, TIMING AND PERSONNEL CONSIDERATIONS. THE SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED IN THE HANDBOOK HAVE THREE THEMES: (1) EACH STATE MUST ADAPT THE SUGGESTIONS TO ITS OWN NEEDS; (2) EXISTING PROCESSES SHOULD BE USED FOR GATHERING INFORMATION, SETTING PRIORITIES, DOING ANALYSIS, AND DELIVERING TA SERVICES; AND (3) THE SUGGESTIONS ARE TO BE VIEWED AS A SET OF SOUND APPROACHES WHICH SHOULD HELP TO SOLVE PROBLEMS RATHER THAN ACHIEVE AUTOMATIC CHANGE AND IMPROVEMENTS.