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This paper summarizes a collection of papers in a special issue that examines what resources and capabilities parents likely to be affected by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families have; whether these parents are likely to be good parents; the nature of parents' relationships and whether they will be able to cooperate in raising their children; whether greater father involvement is good for mothers and children; the nature of local policy and labor market environments; how 1996 the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act is being implemented; and supports available to families outside welfare. Papers are based on data from a new study of "Fragile Families and Child Well-Being," which follows a new birth cohort of 4,700 children in 20 cities nationwide. These papers examine data collected from parents at birth in Austin, Texas; Baltimore, Maryland; Detroit, Michigan; Newark, New Jersey; Oakland, California; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Richmond, Virginia. The 13 papers (in two volumes) are divided into five sections on study descriptions and study questions; capabilities and circumstances of unwed parents; the effects of father involvement; parents' relationships; local policy environments in the cities; paternity establishment; and the effects of policies on family formation. (Contains 70 references.) (SM)