With Your Family in Mind

Come join the Moms Club of Castaic as they are proud to host the 2nd Annual Bunco For Hope Fundraiser!  It will be an afternoon of fun on Sunday, October 21 at The Oaks Grille at the Tournament Players Club in Valencia.  All proceeds will go to Circle of Hope for breast cancer awareness and treatment.  

There’s no endless summer and it’s back to school time.  Believe it or not many teens find returning back to school stressful.  And the anxiety of returning back to school affects all types of kids, no matter what kind of grades they get in school and what kind of extracurricular activities they choose.

Statistics tell us that most seniors will require some type of care as they age.  This care may be basic, such as help with cooking, shopping, and paying bills.  Or, it may be more advanced, such as bathing, incontinence care, and feeding.  Needing care and assistance is now commonplace as we all live longer. 

The danger of developing skin cancer is something people have become more aware of over the years.  Gone are the days of soaking in baby oil and iodine, worshipping the sun, and bronzing skin to get those glorified tan lines.  As skin cancer awareness has steadily increased over the years, many people have replaced tanning lotion with sunscreen, while exercising caution when spending time in the sun.

Dr. Dave White – Senior Pastor at NorthPark Community Church – is fond of stating the following truth: “Only two things will last for eternity: God’s Word and people.  “The implication is that whatever the investment, learning what God has to say or in the lives of people He created is well worth it!”  At NorthPark, our investment in people is not about programs—though a good Bible study, men’s retreat or fun event geared towards youth can be a great conduit to nurture a person’s mind, soul and spirit for eternity.  Everything we do is done with the intent to build wholeness into the lives of people because we know God loves them and created them to know and love Him forever!

In order to help children who have been the victims of abuse and neglect, social workers and mental health professionals instill and restore hope.  Children introduced to safe and secure environments thrive when adults provide security, affection, and positive attention.  Hope is an important concept for all of us to understand.

“March on, and fear not the thorns, or the sharp stones on life’s path.” – Khalil Gibran

Previously we discussed the phases of divorce encompassing the decision to divorce, the process of divorcing, and arriving at the transition stage which describes the shift from interdependency and joint decision making toward independent choices based on a single life. 

Mary Anne Ehlert is a financial planner who has dedicated her life to creating a planning system for families of children with disabilities.  This interest arose from the fact her sister suffers from cerebral palsy.  Her interest was to help create a lifetime plan for persons who will always need care. 

Fodder for the masses.  Anyone going through a divorce knows they are very painful.  I always keep my conference room stocked with tissues.  And they are frequently needed.  It is easy to sit on the sidelines and rejoice in what is most likely a very difficult situation for both Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.  They have built a life together, made a child, and now, everything they built must be “divided up”.  Enter the media.

Last month I offered tips for summertime activities and I’d really like to expand on one in particular this month.  Visiting college campuses is so important because it could be your home for the next four years.

I recommend getting to know it well, and make certain it’s a good fit.  Here are some valuable tips to consider on campus visits.

Every child deserves to have a safe, loving and permanent home.  Children’s Bureau needs foster families who will care specifically for infants and toddlers during the reunification process with their parents.  There are also 114,000 children currently in foster care who are unable to return to their families of origin.  Children’s Bureau is seeking caring families to consider adopting these older children and large sibling sets. 

Some readers of The Magazine of Santa Clarita sent in questions this month about networking and business cards:

Q: Do you have any networking suggestions for V-O neophytes?  I just started taking voiceover classes and really want to dive into this industry headfirst. – Jerry F., Castaic, CA

This is the time of year that many of us look forward to summer vacation – a much-needed break from our day-to-day responsibilities and an opportunity to rest, have fun and re-charge.  Unfortunately, it is often the people who are most in need of some time off – those with the largest amount of work and/or family responsibilities – who find it the hardest to get away.  Family caregivers – spouses caring for husbands or wives, or adult children or grandchildren caring for elderly relatives – often fall into this category.

We all know it is the public policy of our state that parents support their children.  However, few know what the Legislature has done to implement that policy.  The fact is California has enacted many statutes to prioritize the support of children.

On Wednesday, August 29 the Heroin Kills organization will host a symposium of various recovery experts and law enforcement to inform and advise the community.  Details are below.  I hope this event is so jam-packed that you can barely get in the door and here’s why: If your kid isn’t on dope he or she knows someone who is.  This epidemic in Santa Clarita affects all of us, not just those who are currently using or recovering. 

A medical psychologist is a psychologist that has post-doctoral training in the field of medicine to be able to work in consultation with a physician on the treatment of illnesses.  While psychologists in California cannot prescribe medicines, most medical psychologists understand how medications work and can explain them to patients. 

Opiates have become epidemic everywhere and our suburb is no exception; approx. 400 overdoses every year, 13 or more deaths since January 2010 right here in SCV.  It’s important to know what opiates are, how they work and what to do if you suspect a family member of using them or if you yourself need help. 

The City of Santa Clarita has been awarded a $450,000 grant from the State of California Department of Transportation for the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program to help create a safe and healthy environment where students can walk or bike to school.