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This article comments on the paper by sociologists Issac Prilleltensky and Geoffrey Nelson concerned with priorities for psychological and social interventions published in the March 1, 2000 issue of the "Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology." The paper's review of intervention programmes is supportive of the sure start approach adopted locally. Firstly, a sociologist's meta-analysis indicates that programmes focused at the universal level, i.e., whole population, show a larger programme effect over time than the selective programmes, that is targeted at risk families. Secondly, many studies indicate that it is the multi-component programmes which are most effective, i.e., those incorporating community development, job placement and marital counseling as well as parenting skills training. An evaluative review of the time frame of projects would be helpful as sociologists are concerned that the three-year time frame for sure start approach is far too short to enable multi-component programmes rooted in the community to flourish and reap results.