This Kids Count data book and report card examines statewide and county level trends in the well-being of California's children, with an additional focus on indicators of the new economic realities encountered by families as counties take on greater responsibility for local welfare programs. The statistical portrait is based on indicators in the following 12 areas: (1) family economic realities; (2) family expenses and child support; (3) family health; (4) infant mortality; (5) teen births; (6) high school dropout rates; (7) high school graduates prepared for college; (8) K-12 education; (9) child abuse; (10) foster care; (11) gun-related incidents resulting in child injury or death; and (12) youth arrests. The report's introduction details serious limitations with the available data, discusses data interpretation, and presents recommendations for state and county officials and Californian citizens to improve conditions for California families. The bulk of the report contains state and county level fact sheets reporting on demographic information and the indicators throughout the 1990s. The California fact sheet indicates that although the state economy is booming, a large percentage of children are from low-income or extremely poor families. The infant mortality rate dropped considerably since 1990; however, birth outcomes have not improved. The teen birth rate decreased for all ethnic groups. There has been steady improvement in the high school dropout rate for all ethnic groups. After climbing steadily for 10 years, the child abuse rate leveled off in the last 2 years. The report's summary tables list state and countywide data for comparison purposes. (KB)