This report examines recent trends in the impact of government safety net programs, such as cash assistance, food assistance, and the Earned Income Tax Credit, on poverty among children. The effect on poverty is determined by comparing the number of children who would be poor if government benefits were not counted as part of their family income with the number who are poor when benefits are counted. The report uses Census Bureau data collected annually on the incomes of the U.S. population. Because of the improving economy and increases in employment and earnings among low-income families, the number of children living in poverty has declined significantly since 1993. Between 1993 and 1995, the reduction in child poverty was substantial, but after 1995, progress continued at a much slower pace. In addition since 1995, the basic measure of the overall depth and severity of child poverty has improved very little, and the children who remain poor have, on average, become somewhat poorer. The primary reason is that the safety net became less effective in reducing the depth of child poverty between 1995 and 1998. There was a lessening of the impact of cash assistance and food stamp benefits on child poverty and a great decline in the number of children receiving assistance. However, the safety net lifted the same proportion of children from poverty in 1998 as in 1995 because the decline in the impact of cash and food assistance programs was offset by an increase in the antipoverty impact of the Earned Income Tax Credit. (Contains 11 tables.) (SLD)