This paper presents a model that offers strategies for enhancing quality relationships across the family life cycle. The materials support the identification of characteristics of strong families and describe the course of marital development. The model includes a description of the need for an educational and/or intervention framework to enhance family relationships across the life span of marriage. Competencies needed in the pre-marital stage, continuing through each stage of marriage/no children and parenthood to retirement, widowhood, and death are identified. Suggestions for family counselors are also given. (JA)