The Children's Defense Fund (CDF) 1996 report on the state of America's children highlights the critical need for renewed commitment to children by early childhood advocates, parents, and all sectors of society. The introduction describes in general the crises faced by children and calls for adults to recommit their energies to providing solutions to the problems faced by America's children. The report focuses on the following: (1) Congressional movements to reduce and/or eliminate family and children's program funding; (2) family income and child poverty statistics and reforms; (3) child health status and areas for improvement; (4) child care and early childhood development problems and possible solutions; (5) education problems and inequities; (6) adolescent pregnancy and youth development; (7) violence against and by children; and (8) children and families in crisis. A lengthy appendix provides tabulated data on children in the nation and in the states, covering areas such as poverty, health, childbearing, unemployment, child support, infant mortality, Head Start enrollment, disability, nutrition, and victims of crime. (SD)