Working families can now get information on hundreds of agencies that help with everything from landing jobs to saving on groceries, thanks to a self-help computer lab that's opened through a partnership between California first lady Maria Shriver and the Legal Aid Society of Orange County.

The WE Connect Neighborhood Center is housed inside the society's office and uses the Internet to help those facing economic, and other, challenges find groups and programs that can help them out.

Shriver and Sen. Lou Correa toured the grounds today as part of a grand opening celebration that also included free tax preparation and a community resource fair.

"We have to start developing centers that help the entire person," Shriver said during a post-tour news conference. "(If we do that) the better off we'll be as a society, as a state and as a nation."

Patrons can use the computers to find links to a list compiled by the society of more than 300 assistance agencies, and to Shriver's WE Connect Web site, which provides information on an array of public and private programs.

The WE Connect Web site also links to the WEb Connector, a site where users can fill in basic information, like annual income and family size, to determine if they're eligible for tax credits and a range of low-cost services, including health insurance. Last week, Shriver and her husband, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, announced the launch of a Federal version of the WEb Connector tool.

Bob Cohen, executive director of the Legal Aid Society of Orange County, said the neighborhood center is the culmination of a four-year partnership between his group and Shriver. He anticipates that it will help meet the needs of the 4,000 people who already call the society monthly seeking self-help services.

The WE Connect Neighborhood Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Volunteers will be on hand to assist users in navigating the site, said Cohen.

Organizers hope this will be the first of many centers to spring up nationwide.

Information: 714-571-5200