More than 50,000 people volunteer as CASAs—Court-Appointed Special Advocates—for children in the child welfare system. With Foster Care Month beginning on May 1, hear from CASA Dago Benavidez about what he gives, and what he gets in return. This is an excerpt from Lighting the Way, a new book from the Child Welfare League of America.

The Council is dedicated to serving the nation's children and families by improving the courts of juvenile and family jurisdictions. Their weekly newsletter has updated news and information from around the country.

From a private—often even secret—place within individual families, adoption has gone public, becoming part of a national discussion over what makes a family. Historian Kevin Mattson reviews Adoption Nation: How the Adoption Revolution is Transforming America, by Adam Pertman.

This National Governors' Association issue brief highlights state best practices in managing and delivering adoption and foster care services, streamlining adoption procedures, recruiting adoptive and foster parents and implementing family-centered, neighborhood-based placement strategies.

Harvard professor and author Elizabeth Bartholet says the Bush proposals have strengths and weaknesses—but should be welcomed by everyone who cares about children for putting the issue where it belongs: in the public eye.

Raising kids can be expensive, but prospective parents' fears about adoption costs may be exaggerated. This National Endowment for Financial Education's guide can help prospective adoptive parents who are concerned about the financial implications of adoption.

Helping young people avoid or overcome emotional problems in the wake of violence, disaster, or the loss of a family member is one of the most important challenges adults face. The National Institutes of Health offers what is known about the impact of disasters on children and steps to minimize long-term emotional harm.

Here are guidelines for Adoption 2002, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to double by the year 2002 the number of children adopted or placed in other permanent homes each year.