The purpose of this research is to investigate empirically the determinants of children's health with particular reference to home and local environmental variables such as family income, parents' schooling, preventive medical care, and health manpower availability. Wherever possible, children's health is studied in the context of the nature-nurture controversy. After an introductory chapter, Chapter Two examines the relationship between a number of family characteristics and the health of white, 6- to 11-year-old children during the period 1963 through 1965. Chapter Three explores race and income differences in the same data set. In Chapter Four, the health of white 12- to 17-year-old adolescents during the period 1966 through 1970 is examined. In Chapter Five, the pure environmental contribution of family background, parents' schooling and family income to the health of adolescents is examined. In Chapters Six and Seven, relationships among children's growth, diet, and family background are explored. Findings indicate that family characteristics (especially mother's schooling) do have significant impacts on children's health and that preventive care is an important vehicle for this impact in the case of dental health but not in the case of physical health. Similarly, the greater availability of dentists has a positive impact on dental health, but greater availability of pediatricians does not alter the physical health measures. (Author/RH)