When parents have secure employment and earn enough to meet their families' basic needs, children benefit in many ways. They are more likely to have decent and stable housing, good nutrition, and adequate health care. Secure employment supports healthy development in other ways as well. It can alleviate parental stress, prevent depression, and improve family functioning, thus creating a more positive home setting for children. In addition, going to work can put parents in contact with wider social networks, which not only contribute to parents' physical and mental health (Singer & Ryff, 2001), but also expand families' access to information and resources that can help support their children's growth and education. Today, many children grow up without these advantages. Historically, workforce development programs have focused primarily on job training and placement. While these are sound objectives, participants have too often ended up in low-wage jobs with limited prospects for advancement. More effective approaches not only prepare participants for the work force, but also address obstacles to employment, take neighborhood effects into account, focus on retention, and consider employers' bottom-line concerns. This "KIDS COUNT Indicator Brief" outlines eight broad strategies for workforce development that are rooted in lessons learned from recent practice and research, including the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Jobs Initiative: (1) Providing comprehensive employment and educational services geared to low-skill job seekers; (2) Adding rungs at the bottom of the career ladder; (3) Focusing relentlessly on job quality; (4) Supporting job retention and advancement; (5) Addressing the needs of both workers and employers; (6) Expanding child care options for working families; (7) Addressing transportation issues; and (8) Taking a systemic approach to workforce development. (Contains 10 online resources.)