The article addresses the situation of the young Russian family from the point of view of its need for external support and the pursuit of prosperity and economic independence based on the realization of its labor potential. The problem approach, traditionally used in studies of the young family, focuses on difficulties and deficiencies, thus contributing to creation of an image of the young family as one falling under the category of weak and vulnerable social groups and requiring social assistance and support by default. The authors emphasize the importance of the resource approach, which allows extending the perception of the young family as an active social subject, unwilling to shift the responsibility for its well-being onto the state. Statistics and sociological research data is used in order to characterize problems, resources and measures of social support of the young family. The author’s empirical study focuses on the labor sphere, especially important for the well-being of the young family. The ob