This Kids Count report examines statewide trends in the well-being of Illinois' children, focusing on the impact of communities on children. The statistical portrait is based on 14 indicators of well-being: (1) uninsured children; (2) infant mortality; (3) low birth weight; (4) violent death and injury; (5) early childhood education; (6) high school dropout rates; (7) family income; (8) families receiving welfare assistance; (9) child support enforcement; (10) tax policy; (11) new families at risk; (12) teen pregnancy; (13) child abuse and neglect; and (14) children in foster and substitute care. The report outlines an action agenda that involves improving health care, encouraging learning beginning at birth, promoting economic security, strengthening vulnerable families, and collaborating toward a vision for children. The report also describes the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods and highlights several other community programs addressing areas of concern. The bulk of the document is comprised of data tables delineating countywide data on the indicators. Findings indicate that in 10 areas of child well-being, Illinois ranks thirty-fourth among the states, an improvement over the 1998 ranking of 38. Illinois has a high percentage of children lacking health insurance, the second highest rate of high school dropouts in the Midwest, and the eleventh highest median income among the states. Fifteen percent of Illinois children are in a "high risk" category--the highest rate in the Midwest, though still lower than California or New York. (HTH)