Culture and systemic change are paramount to achieving significant and long-lasting gains in child and youth wellbeing and, in time, securing the future of our nation. This brief, based on a high-level synthesis of eight years of experience and research in place-based family strengthening, makes the case for a national transformation to a society that visibly promotes families, the most important asset shaping outcomes for children and youth. At the individual family level, evidence shows that children and youth thrive when three fundamental elements are present: nurturing relationships, financial stability, and positive connections. Making the family fundamentals a strong reality for the vast majority of Americans will occur only through a shift from a culture that "values" families to a society in which policies and practices reflect that value. What can prompt this cultural transformation? Macro recommendations include leadership from agencies serving children, youth, and families; public will campaigns; and policy and practice changes in multiple community sectors (e.g., youth development, human services, employment, faith, community development). The brief also summarizes promising approaches for creating the conditions for families to develop the three fundamentals. (Contains 63 endnotes and 4 figures.) [Document published by Family Strengthening Policy Center, National Human Services Assembly.]