The National Survey of America's Families (NSAF), conducted by the Urban Institute, is part of a multiyear study to assess the New Federalism by tracking ongoing social policy reforms and relating policy changes to the status and well-being of children and adults. The major objective of the study is to assess the effects of the devolution of responsibility for major social programs such as Aid to Families with Dependent Children from the Federal to the state level. The NSAF collects information on the economic, health, and social dimensions of the well-being of children, nonelderly adults, and their families in 12 states and in the balance of the nation. The 12 states, which account for a little more than 50 percent of the country's population, were selected to vary in terms of their size and geographic location, the dominant political party, and key baseline indicators of well-being and fiscal capacity. A sample of the balance of the nation was included so that national estimates could also be produced. Low-income families were oversampled because the policy changes of interest are expected to affect them most. The initial round of the NSAF took place in 1997, with followup rounds in 1999 and 2002. The Urban Institute is being funded by a consortium of foundations, led by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, to carry out the Assessing the New Federalism Project. Westat is responsible for NSAF data collection and related activities.