Coping efficacy, the belief that one can deal with stress, leads to positive outcomes in preadolescence. This longitudinal study examines how coping efficacy plays a role in prosocial behavior (caring) for pre-adolescents exposed to poverty related stress. Further, we investigated the influence of initial levels of caring on the relation between coping efficacy and change in caring over time. Results suggest that coping efficacy plays a powerful role in children's ability to care for others.