The qualities of strong families are described, and assessment tools for measuring family strengths are reviewed. Empirical evidence demonstrating the reliability and validity of the Family Functioning Style Scale is presented. The article concludes with a discussion of the use of family strengths assessment data for intervention purposes.The current interest in the assessment of family strengths, as well as efforts to support and strengthen family functioning, has a short but rich history. The pioneering work of Otto (1962, 1 9 6 3 , 1975) forms the foundation of the current work in the family strengths arena. Bowman (1983) aggregated and summarized much of what is currently believed to be the major indicators of the strengths of strong families. Curran (1983) and Karpel (1986) provide extensive descriptions of the traits and personal resources of healthy, well-adjusted families. The most ambitious work on identifying the unique characteristics of strong families has been conducted by Stinnett and his colleagues (Lingren et al.

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A family-level, needs-based model of assessment and intervention is described. The model includes three major components: specification of family needs, identification of sources of support and resources to meet needs, and staff roles in helping families access resources from their support networks. The importance of a broader-based, social systems approach to assessment and intervention is emphasized.In this article we describe how the Family, Infant and Preschool Program (FIPP) uses a needs-based, social support approach to providing and mediating both child-and family-level resources and services. FIPP is an outreach unit of Western Carolina Center, located in Morganton, North Carolina. The program provides home-, center-, and community-based services to approximately 300 families of handicapped, retarded, delayed, and at-risk children from birth to 6 years of age. Detailed descriptions of FIPP can be found in Dunst (1985) and Dunst, Trivette, McWilliam, and Galant (in press).The needs-based assessment and intervention strategy used by FIPP includes three major components: specification of family needs, identification of sources of support and resources to meet needs, and staff roles in helping families access resources from their support networks (see Figure 1). Family concerns, issues, and priorities are first identified using a number of needs-based assessment procedures and strategies. After needs have been specified, the parents and staff together &dquo;map&dquo; the family's social Appreciation is extended to