Abstract
The purpose of the study was to develop family-based intervention program to be implemented and disseminated via "Healthy Family-Support Center." This preventive-empowerment program was designed to intervene with parenting mildly handicapped children enrolled at integrated kindergarten. The theoretical backgrounds employed were ecological theory, preventive family-based intervention approach, and theraplay theory. The pretest-posttest control-group design with random assignment was applied. The research model yielded a significant intervention effect(t=-1.294, p<0.05) on mothers' parenting stress. With proven effectiveness of family-based intervention program, the study further discussed why an ecological, family-based intervention model was a relevant alternative to investigate issues in family welfare, and why an individualized family service plan was a relevant tool to deliver services-in-context for the families who needed supports from exo-and macrosystems.