The first section, "Population Characteristics," presents statistics on factors that influence the well-being of children. The second section, entitled "Health Status," contains vital statistics and health behavior information for infants, children, adolescents, and women of child-bearing age. The third section, "Health Services Utilization," contains data on health care financing and newly implemented health policies. The fourth and fifth sections contain information on selected indicators at State and city levels. This edition also includes a special section that cross-references 24 indicators with their respective Healthy People 2000 Objectives. Regarding child abuse and neglect, 1995 investigations by child protective services agencies in 49 States determined that 1,000,502 children were victims of substantiated or indicated child abuse and neglect, a rate equivalent to 15 per 1,000 children younger than 18 years of age. Nearly 80 percent of the perpetrators of child maltreatment were the parents of the victims. Forty-four States reported that a total of 996 children died from abuse or neglect. Regarding juvenile drug abuse, preliminary results of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's 1996 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse show that the percentage of adolescents ages 12-17 who reported using illicit drugs -- specifically alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine -- in the month prior to the survey decreased from 10.9 percent in 1995 to 9.0 percent in 1996. 72 references