Communities can host a complex array of interacting organizations, programs, services and resources. The existing policies, systems, and environments that impact the health of community members can be a confusing maze of physical attributes, organizational systems, and rules that govern behavior. This document will help Cooperative Extension agents and health advocates by teasing apart the complexity of community living to identify assets and barriers to community health. The document also explores the importance of engaging community members in the process of community health asset identification and improvement.