The numbers of children living in poverty in the United States increased dramatically during the 1980s and remains high. This collection of essays, with a focus on children rather than on parents' income or self-sufficiency, examines the following questions: Why are so many children growing up in poor families? What are the effects of poverty on children's physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development? What role can public policy play in preventing or alleviating the damaging effects of poverty on children? The 12 essays in this collection are: (1) "Children in Poverty: Development and Policy Issues" (Aletha C. Huston); (2) "The Economic Environment of Childhood" (Greg J. Duncan); (3) "The Role of Mother-Only Families in Reproducing Poverty" (Sara S. McLanahan and others); (4) "The Association between Adolescent Parenting and Childhood Poverty" (Lorraine V. Klerman); (5) "The Strain of Living Poor: Parenting, Social Support, and Child Mental Health" (Vonnie C. McLoyd and Leon Wilson); (6) "The Health of Poor Children: Problems and Programs" (Lorraine V. Klerman); (7) "With a Little Help: Children in Poverty and Child Care" (Deborah A. Phillips); (8) "Poverty, Early Childhood Education, and Academic Competence: the Abecedarian Experiment" (Craig T. Ramey and Frances A. Campbell); (9) "Educational Acceleration for At-Risk Students" (Henry M. Levin); (10) "Cost-Benefit and Cost-Effectiveness Analyses of Interventions for Children in Poverty" (Henry M. Levin); (11) "Effective Programs for Children Growing up in Concentrated Poverty" (Lisbeth Bamberger Schorr); and (12) "Antecedents, Consequences, and Possible Solutions for Poverty among Children" (Aletha C. Huston). Each essay contains references. (MOK)