Moreover, because the survey pays particular attention to low-income families, the Snapshots reveal important aspects of their lives and of how they differ from the lives of children and adults in families with higher incomes. In addition to describing the well-being of America's families from a range of perspectives, the information gathered in the 1997 survey serves as a baseline. When the survey is repeated in 1999, researchers will be able to measure changes over time and explore the effects of welfare reform and other policy changes on family life. Two conclusions are immediately clear from these Snapshots . Second, the status of children and adults differs greatly around the country.
Variation is dramatic among some indicators but relatively small among others.
In contrast, approximately 10 percent of low-income children age 6 to 11 in all 13 states had high levels of behavioral and emotional problems. The NSAF examined employment, earnings and income, educational attainment, participation in training activities, economic hardship, family structure, housing arrangements and cost, health insurance coverage, access to and use of health services, health status, psychological well-being, participation in religious and volunteer activities, knowledge about availability of social services, and attitudes about work, welfare, health care, and childbearing. The survey also asked respondents about participation in government programs, such as welfare and Medicaid, and about children's education, parent-child interactions, child care arrangements, participation in work and recreational activities, behavioral problems, child support, and contact with noncustodial parents. These Snapshots do not include information on child care, but future reports will. The Snapshots are organized into four subject areas.