Recent findings indicate that intervention systems for children, youth and adults with behavioural problems should focus simultaneously on the individual with the problem and his/her family. Therefore, gaining new knowledge on families at risk and development of new interventions and services present a permanent research and professional challenge. The overall objective of the proposed study is to identify characteristics of specific groups of families at risk, their resilience, readiness for change, readiness for intervention; and life satisfaction, as a set of new, under-researched processes which could be of importance for complex family interventions planning. Specific objectives on one hand relate to the family at risk research methodology development and on the other hand to determine the relationship between the aforementioned characteristics of families at risk, which were never researched in Croatia. The study sample includes 200 families at risk, with at least one family member who is, due to behavioural problems, a beneficiary of interventions in the area of education, social welfare, mental health and/or justice provision in the City of Zagreb and Zagreb County. Various qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods shall be used. Due to the methodological complexity and the sensitivity of the content and research draft ethics, a relatively large, carefully selected research team will conduct the project activities, ensuring competences in the areas of research methodology, theoretical and professional aspects of the issues in focus. In addition to the new findings on the characteristics of the families at risk, this study will contribute to the family and family environment research methodology development. The outcomes of the study will allow development of guidelines for complex family at risk interventions planning based on beneficiary perspective and scientific data.