These four quarterly reports for 1998 provide a forum for scholarly reviews and discussions of developmental research and its implications for the policies affecting children. The first issue focuses on fathering. The main article addresses perspectives of fathers' involvement in children's lives in developing countries, specifically, issues of a father's role around the world, effects of fathers on children, theories of father involvement, and implications of programs. A second article in this issue addresses U.S. policy initiatives concerning fathering. The second issue for 1998 focuses on child care subsidies. The main article investigates child care subsidies, specifically the growing interest in child care policy, limitations, delivery systems, quality, supply, and models for research. A second article addresses President Clinton's child care initiative. The third issue for 1998 focuses on welfare. The article, "Implications of the 1996 Welfare Legislation for Children: A Research Perspective," addresses welfare legislation, evaluation findings and basic research, new studies, and interconnections of welfare and other policies. The fourth issue for 1998 examines the growing number of children living in poverty and programs aimed at assisting these children. The feature article, "Improving the Life Chances of Children in Poverty: Assumptions and What We Have Learned," addresses: (1) assumptions underlying child poverty programs; (2) interventions including child-focused, parenting, adult-focused, and two-generation; (3) examining assumptions underlying two-generation programs; and (4) conclusions. (SD)