What do we know about the implications of the major changing forces in urban life for children? What should be our priorities for new policies and practices for children in cities? The traditional view of children as 'dependants' obscures the complexity of the urban experience children face. Their social environment is not limited strictly to institutions such as the family and the church. But neither do children have access to the full range of societal offerings. This volume evaluates the basis of current issues of public concern and debate and constructs an agenda for future research, policy, and practice concerning children and families. The perspectives of many disciplines are brought together and integrated in the consideration of such factors as family structure and child care arrangements, urban dilemmas for adolescents, legal structures and practices, urban social organization and service delivery systems, housing and neighbourhood contexts, and ethnic diversity. The book as a whole identifies the fundamentals of a broad issue of concern and offers guidelines for shaping a humane future.