Clearly, the issues in this year's KIDS COUNT Data Book essay represent some of the most formidable barriers facing parents who are trying to connect to the workforce. Substance abuse, domestic violence, prior incarceration, and depression can potentially paralyze even the most eager and enterprising parents and jeopardize the economic security and future of their children, but the evidence affirms--that it is possible to help these particularly vulnerable parents address and overcome these obstacles. Taking these solutions to scale, however, will require a significant commitment on the part of federal, state, and local leaders. Policies need to be reconsidered, resources need to be redeployed, services need to be integrated, skills need to be bolstered, and new partnerships need to be forged. Although this is a significant challenge, it is also an absolute necessity. (Contains 93 endnotes, maps and tables offering statistical profiles for 50 states, and the District of Columbia, 3 appendices, definitions and data sources, and primary contact information for Kids Count projects.)