With Your Family in Mind

Inner Circle Foster Families are very excited when they first bring a child home with them.  After hours of preparation, they are thrilled when the news arrives that a placement is available.  Their compassion and their preparation to share their home and happiness with a child is a sight to be seen. However, the child needs time to adjust to new surroundings and people.  Many children react to separation and loss in a variety of ways.  They may be anxious, have trouble sleeping, have appetite changes, or be high strung.

As we age, the need for exercise is always present. The good news is that exercise is not just for the young and the athletic. Tai Chi is a form of exercise founded in the 13th century and Yoga is an Indian tradition; providing both relaxation and a beneficial form of exercise that is enjoyed by both young and old alike.

What motivates someone to become a divorce mediator?  Why a team mediation?  Recently we found ourselves examining our own part in divorce mediation as a mediation team.
Why become a mediator?
The Team
Dana Schutz – I have been practicing Marriage and Family Therapy in Santa Clarita for nearly 20 years. 

Have you ever thought of becoming a foster parent or wanted to adopt a child in need of permanency? Koinonia Family Services is now serving the Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valleys, and is looking for families who want to provide safe, caring, and nurturing homes for children who are in need of short-term or long-term placement. Children in need of placement range from newborns to 18-year-olds.

Lawyers frequently gripe that their clients seek their assistance way too late.  I find myself in this position often.  I recently had clients come to me after the time to file a response to the complaint they were served with had already expired.  To make matters worse, they came to me after the plaintiffs provided them with notice they were running into court on an emergency basis to get an order against them.  My clients failed to attend the hearing, had no idea what happened at the hearing, and sought legal representation days later. 

Renowned radio talk show host, commentator and prolific author Dennis Prager returns to the Santa Clarita Valley for a very special “Distinguished Speaker Series” presentation on Saturday, May 10, at 8 p.m. at Congregation Beth Shalom. Choosing to comment on “Why People Are Alienated From Religion?” at a house of worship is typical of Prager, who has always approached controversial topics head on. His presentation on “Why People Are Alienated From Religion?” will include a Q&A session with his audience, which should make for lively discussion.

Spousal support laws seek to prevent a divorced spouse from suffering a decrease in his/her standard of living.  Oftentimes after divorce, one spouse has been out of the workforce for such a significant amount of time that it would be difficult for them to quickly attain a job or professional position that would allow them to maintain the standard of living they may have had while they were married.
The working spouse may be ordered to pay the stay-at-home spouse spousal support. 

Long-term care insurance may soon be getting more expensive for women. That is because two of the country’s biggest long-term care insurance providers have announced plans to introduce “gender-based” pricing.  This started changing recently when Genworth Financial decided to charge more for policies pur­chased by single women.  John Hancock quickly fol­lowed suit, and other insurers are likely to fall in line.  The Affordable Care Act requires gender-neutral pricing for health insurance, but it doesn’t apply to long-term care insurance.

Mother’s Day is all about honoring those influential people in our lives who have supported us, sacrificed for us, and shaped who we are.  Every year, we celebrate and express our gratitude to our mothers.  However, for millions of Americans, it can be difficult to know just how to celebrate when mom has dementia.  Even though mom may be different than the mom we knew in past Mother’s Days, we still have that deep human connection with them.  With a little creativity, and intentional communication with our loved ones, we can foster that connection, despite the disease.  Here are a few tips for engaging, connecting and celebrating with her this Mother’s Day.

The timing of a bankruptcy is often an important decision for a debtor that wants to get the full benefit of the bankruptcy stay and the discharge.  In a Chapter 13 case, debtors restructure their debt, so the time to file often depends on whether a lender is close to taking back secured property, such as a home (by foreclosure) or a car (by repossession).  A Chapter 13 case is often designed to stop creditor actions while the debtor sets up a plan to pay back missed payments on secured debts while eliminating some of their unsecured debt.  Waiting too long could result in foreclosure of their home or repossession of their car.

How may we best protect our families, while allocating our resources sensibly? By carefully considering the needs of our families, we find our answers – and earn some peace of mind in the process.
Who should inherit our assets when we die? We love our children equally, but they really are not equal: they have different needs, aptitudes, abilities, ages, opportunities, experiences and limitations, so we may treat them differently. (Remember, there’s really no birthright.

If you are looking for a new career or need a fresh outlook on life, dental assisting could be for you.  The dental field offers many options for people looking for new careers.  Dental Assistants are unique in that every day, they have the privilege of making other people’s lives better. 

Are you, your parent, or a family member struggling to meet the needs of an elderly loved one during a chronic illness or disability?  If you see one of these signs of distress, the family may benefit from the services of a Life Care Planning Attorney:
1. The primary caregiver is suffering from burnout, ill health frustration, guilt or confusion.

There’s a saying that goes:  “You don’t stop playing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop playing.”  How often have you heard a friend, colleague, or family member respond with, “I can’t do that, I’m too old!”  Now, very important, before I continue, I want to be clear that before you begin any exercise program or take supplements, consult with your physician.
As we age, we all suffer from sarcopenia, or age-related muscle decline. 

Being the friend(s) of a divorcing couple or when a divorce is on the horizon, is a tough road to navigate. There are, however, a couple ways to help make the middle road easier for all.
1.Reveal no opinion on who is right or wrong. Unless you know for a fact that something is factual, do not take a position. Simply listen, be a sounding board, and “reflect” each spouse’s feelings back to them. Remember they may get back together and your opinion will be remembered.

Zonta’s Women in Service luncheon honoring women who volunteer and provide service to the community really do make Santa Clarita Valley (SCV) an “awesome’ place to live.  The Robinson Ranch Clubhouse was filled as Marlee Lauffer emceed the program on March 8.  Fourteen outstanding women were nominated by service organizations that not only improve the status of girls and women, but serve the community.  These women and organizations were recognized by Zonta as follows:

There is no finer way to make someone happy than to become a foster parent for a child who has suffered.  Whether you are married, or single, working or retired, you can be among a group of outstanding citizens who commit themselves to helping others. 

Since the mid-1990’s the SCV Mayor’s Committee for Employment of Individuals with Disabilities, a local non-profit group, has focused on one goal – to give people with disabilities a fair opportunity to seek and gain productive employment here in Santa Clarita.