Part 1 of the booklet presents key facts in important areas affecting children and families, the gap in current successful programs for children and families, and the cost-effectiveness of preventive investment. Information in part 1 encompasses maternal and child health, health insurance, hunger and nutrition, homeless families with children, child care, abused and neglected children and others with special needs, head start, elementary and secondary education, and higher education. Other topics in this part include adolescent pregnancy, employment and wages, child support, welfare, youth unemployment, and young families. Part 2 contains key charts on the status of families and children in a State-by-State format. Data address child population and poverty, family status, maternal and child health, family income and other supports, education and youth employment. Part 3 indicates how America compares with other nations in protecting its children. This includes a selected list of countries that provide universal access to health care and a basic income support system for families with children, infant mortality rates for selected countries, the percent of babies born at low birthweight for selected countries, pregnancy rates per 1,000 women by age, and public expenditures for education as a percentage of gross national product in selected countries. The appendix outlines successful preventive investments in children.