This report summarizes the conference proceedings of the fourth Head Start National Research Conference. The focus of the conference was on creating a shared agenda for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers related to serving children and families in an era of rapid change. Keynote topics and speakers are: "Countering the Health Effects of Poverty on Children and Families" (Norman Anderson); "Researchers, Practitioners, and Policy Makers: Hanging Together or Hanging Separately" (Jack P. Shonkoff); and "An Embarrassment of Riches: Partnering for High Quality Research and Programs During Head Start Expansion" (Eleanor E. Maccoby). Other special session topics included the effects of immigration and migration of children and their communities and early childhood assessment. Thirty-seven symposia are summarized in the areas of: (1) Head Start research and practice; (2) Administration of Children, Youth, and Families research; (3) cultural diversity; (4) family support and parenting; (5) health, mental health, and resiliency; (6) language development and school readiness; (7) research methods, measures, and assessment; (8) researcher-practitioner partnerships and collaborations; and (9) miscellaneous. Poster sessions are also summarized on the following topics: (1) children and technology; (2) classroom environment; (3) cultural and linguistic diversity; (4) curriculum development; (5) early education; (6) exceptional children; (7) fathers; (8) health; (9) infants and toddlers; (10) measurement techniques; (11) mental health; (12) research methods; (13) normative child development; (14) parenting; (15) parent education; (16) parent involvement; (17) school readiness; (18) staff development; (19) teacher-child interaction; (20) transition; and (21) welfare reform. Four appendices include a list of the cooperating organizations and peer reviewers, a subject index, and a directory of participants. (KB)