This collection of papers asserts that the life prospects of children at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder can be improved substantially, and the growing gap between them and more privileged children reduced, by making appropriate investments now. After an introduction by Isabel V. Sawhill, the nine papers are: (2) "Promoting the Healthy Development of Young Children" (Greg J. Duncan and Katherine Magnuson); (3) "When Work Alone is not Enough" (Robert Haverman); (4) "Preventing Early Childbearing" (Andrea Kane and Isabel V. Sawhill); (5) "Strengthening Fragile Families" (Irwin Garfinkel and Sara McLanahan); (6) "Family Policy and Academic Achievement" (David J. Armor); (7) "Providing Universal Preschool for Four-Year-Olds" (Barbara Wolfe and Scott Scrivner); (8) "Improving Neighborhoods for Poor Children" (Jens Ludwig); and (9) "The Blair Government and Child Poverty: An Extra One Percent for Children in the United Kingdom" (John Hills). (Papers contain references.) (SM)