Often obscured by the multiple problems that plague some American families is the compelling evidence that many families have inner strengths that enable them to do a good job of raising their children and supporting one another. Because family strengths are not easily measured, they tend to be overlooked, resulting in a significant gap in the knowledge base on families. This research brief defines the concept of family strengths, identifies the characteristics of strong families from research, and examines several measures of family strengths in two recent national surveys, one dealing with family life of younger children and the other with adolescents. The brief suggests that levels of closeness, concern, caring, and interaction are quite high in contemporary families. Despite the stresses and uncertainties of daily life, most children have parents who report that they feel happy all or most of the time. The data from the two surveys suggest a link between family strengths and child well-being, although further research is needed to determine precisely how they are linked. The brief also suggests some next steps to expand understanding of family strengths and what they mean for the well-being and development of family members. (Contains 34 references.) (Author/KB)