What is Family Strengthening?

Family strengthening is a comprehensive approach to improving health, social, educational, and economic outcomes for entire families, not just individuals. Family strengthening typically takes place in organizations that are grounded in a specific neighborhood and often employ people who live in the community.

Family-strengthening practice, sometimes called family support, is committed to developing the integrity of families within the context of their beliefs, values, customs, and culture. Reciprocity is encouraged to create bonds between the organization and families through the process of giving and receiving.

A family strengthening organization may be a freestanding community-based organization, a program housed within a larger service agency or a community development corporation, a program that consistently uses family-strengthening principles, or even a network of family strengthening sites. Family strengthening organizations are often referred to as family resource centers.

In short, family strengthening “helps families help themselves” by providing:
... a place where families and community can come together in a safe environment for growing, learning and connecting;
... a program that is the hub of community services, supports and opportunities designed to improve family well-being;
... and a philosophy of respecting and honoring family assets.

Family strengthening overview copyright California Family Resource Association and used with permission.