The purpose of this report is to provide a synthesis of the ideas and research from the neurobiological, behavioral, and social sciences that further inform, the evidence base of CSSP's Strengthening Families Approach and Protective Factors Framework. This synthesis reflects CSSP's theory of change (see Figure 1) which affirms the necessity of working in all domains of the social ecology--individual, family and relational, community, societal, and policy--in order to make a difference in the lives of families and children. (author abstract)