This booklet contains an address presented before the Council of Advisors of the National Center for Children in Poverty, explaining the need for programs to help reallocate resources and energies to aid not only the disadvantaged but the country as a whole. Many issues related to aiding impoverished children are also discussed. The address includes discussions on: (1) the human development approach, which concentrates on helping the disadvantaged realize their latent talents; (2) the importance of prenatal care and parenting education; (3) the preschool years: early "family equivalent" interventions that emphasize disease prevention and health promotion as well as parent education; (4) studies of disadvantaged families and child development; (5) early school and middle school education--examples and key concepts; (6) adolescent behavior turned into a social advantage; and (7) prevention of substance abuse and violence. (SW)