The FSS is designed to measure the helpfulness of various sources of support available to families raising children. The scale consists of 18 items about both formal and informal supports, and requires participants to rate the level of perceived helpfulness on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from “Not At All Helpful” to “Extremely Helpful.” Two additional narrative items of the scale (items 19 and 20) provide an opportunity for the respondent to write in “other”forms of support.If the source of support addressed by the scale item is not available to participants, then the option “Not Available”(NA) is selected.