This research brief uses the official measure of poverty and the most recent data available from the U.S. Census Bureau to document poverty rates for children under age 18 in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The brief examines long-term trends in child poverty between 1979 and 1998 in each state. Further, the brief examines components of those trends, specifically during two distinct periods (1979-1993 and 1993-1998) that are defined by the national business cycle and by the overhaul of state and federal welfare laws. Findings indicate that the child poverty rate recovered from its 1993 peak of 22.5 percent to fall to 18.7 percent in 1998, still significantly higher than the 1979 level of 16.2 percent. There was wide variation among states in current child poverty rates and trends over the past 20 years. In 1998, six states plus the District of Columbia had child poverty rates that were significantly higher than the national average. Several states had increases in child poverty between 1979 and 1998 that exceeded the national average. Sixteen states reduced their child poverty levels over the same time period. States with high child poverty levels are no longer concentrated primarily in the South. Between 1979 and 1993, child poverty increased in all states except one. Child poverty rates declined in most states from 1993 through 1998. National welfare caseloads decreased by 47 percent from 1993 to 1998. In some states, child poverty rates improved substantially at the same time welfare rolls were reduced. Several other states cut welfare caseloads by more than half without any improvement in child poverty rates. (KB)