Local governments are on the front line of responsibility for the welfare of children and families. Increased city efforts and collaboration on behalf of children and families were found by this survey of 780 cities conducted by the National League of Cities (NLC) during 1995. The survey found that nearly two out of three cities are involved in each of the 34 areas of involvement examined. The chapters of this report are: (1) "Introduction" on how the survey was conducted; (2) "The Most Pressing Needs of Children and Families" citing child care as the top concern, with family stability, before- and after-school programs, and housing affordability also listed as pressing needs; (3) "Current Municipal Involvement in Issues Affecting Children and Families," finding the areas of community safety, recreation, neighborhood revitalization, delinquency/youth crime, housing affordability, gangs, and drug and alcohol abuse as main concerns; (4) "Financing Strategies"; (5) "Strengthening Communities through Collaboration," citing 73 percent of cities involved in collaborative activities to address needs of children and families, with partners including non-profit agencies, neighborhood and civic groups, and school superintendents; and (6) "The Current and Future Role of Municipal Government," including predictions by nearly half the responding cities that, in the future, meeting needs of children and families will be harder, eligibility rules will be stricter, and available funds will decrease. (BGC)