Representing an important University of Colorado effort to relate university research directly to social policy and practice, this book examines several decades of indicators that reflect changes in children's behavior as well as social-environmental factors that influence their development. Articles in the book provide a volume overview and introduction to social indicators, then look at behavioral indicators, family indictors, and broader contextual and policy issues. The articles are as follows: (1) "Contributions and Complexities of Studying Trends in the Well-Being of Children and Youth" (Mary Utne O'Brien, Roger P. Weissberg, Herbert J. Walberg, and Carol Bartels Kuster); (2) "Social Indicators as Tools of Public Policy" (Brett V. Brown and Thomas Corbett); (3) "U.S. Educational Achievement in the 20th Century: Brilliant Success and Persistent Failure" (Lawrence C. Stedman); (4) "Tobacco, Alcohol, and Other Drug Use in Adolescence: Modern-Day Epidemics" (Lloyd D. Johnston and Patrick M. O'Malley); (5) "Sexual Activity among Teenagers in the United States (Joyce C. Abma); (6) "Trends in the Health of Children in the United States" (Lorraine V. Klerman); (7) "Changing Family Circumstances" (Donald J. Hernandez);(8) "Child Maltreatment: Past, Present, and Future Perspectives" (Dante Cicchetti and Sheree L. Toth); (9) "Trends in the History of Child Care and Family Support: 1940-2000" (Emily D. Cahan and Juliet Bromer); (10) "Indicators of Children's Well-Being in a Community Context" (Tama Leventhal and Jeanne Brooks-Gunn); (11) "Children and the Changing Media Environment: From Plato's Republic to Hillary's Village" (Donald F. Roberts); (12) "Historical Overview of Children and Childhood in the United States in the 20th Century" (Joseph M. Hawes and Kriste Lindenmeyer); and (13) "Policy Trends Affecting Children and Youth" (Brian L. Wilcox and Charles Barone). Numerous tables and figures are embedded in the chapters, and each chapter contains references. (HTH)