Survivor Benefits and Your Adopted Children

Social Security provides support to families of workers who pass away. Widows, widowers, children, and other dependents may be entitled to survivor benefits. When a widow or widower remarries, the question is raised, “Will my children lose their survivor benefits if my new spouse adopts them?” The answer is simple. Children who are later adopted by their living parent’s new spouse do not lose their survivor benefits. As long as children were already entitled, adoption does not terminate their survivor benefits.

For more information about child’s benefits termination and entitlement, please visit the Social Security Administration website or call 1-800-772-1213.

New Adoption Laws Around the Country

August 1, 2018 ushered in a comprehensive, new “Adoption Option Act” in Louisiana. Legislators unanimously passed and the Governor signed into law Act 562, which limits adoption expenses paid, by adoptive parents for birth parent expenses, to $7,500. The new law changes the word “reasonable” expenses to “actual” when listing the types of expenses with which adoptive families may assist an expectant mother. Allowable expenses will continue to include medical costs and legal fees, temporary housing, maternity clothes, food and personal hygiene products. The law specifically excludes living expenses such as vehicles and leisure activities. In addition, the law provides that lying about pre-natal expenses shall be a crime punishable by up to $50,000 fine and 10 years in prison. 

This spring, Georgia updated their state’s adoption laws for the first time in almost three decades. Act HB 159 reduces the length of time a birth mother has to change her mind and revoke her consent to an adoption from ten (10) days to four (4) days. A second piece of the legislation allows for adoptive parents to assist a birth mother with certain living expenses in private adoptions. The legislature is still debating a proposal to allow faith-based adoption agencies to refuse to work with same-sex couples. 

In a more negative trend in state law, Oklahoma passed a law in May, which would allow private adoption agencies to discriminate against L.G.B.T.Q. couples on religious grounds when placing children. The Governor, Mary Fallin, explained the law allows agencies to choose not to place children in certain homes if it “would violate the agency’s written religious or moral convictions or policies”. Critics of the law, which also applies to private agencies working in foster care, said it was unconstitutional and would hamper efforts to find secure, permanent homes for children. 

Adoption Books

Since 1994, Tapestry Books has been a leading literary source for adoptive families, birth families, adoptees, and adoption professionals. Hand picked by the team at Tapestry Books, enjoy this carefully selected mix of best sellers about adoption as well as publications for the whole family that last a lifetime. Click on an image if you are interested in purchasing the book online.

You can learn more about Tapestry Books at http://www.tapestrybooks.com. Their phone number is 716-544-0204 and they are happy to make more recommendations.

Enjoy!

ABC Adoption & Me

by Gayle Swift

A wonderfully simple children’s book that is perfect for younger children. This book artfully introduces the concept of adoption to young readers.

Inside Transracial Adoption

by Beth Hall and Gail Steinberg

Inside Transracial Adoption is an authoritative guide to navigating the challenges and issues that parents face in the USA when they adopt a child of a different race and/or from a different culture..

What Do I Say Now?

by M.C. Baker and Carol Bick

This is a Tapestry Books’ favorite! This book brilliantly details how to respond to awkward and difficult questions about adoption.

Three Little Words

by Ashley Rhodes Courtier

This a wonderfully written account of a young girl’s experience in the foster care system and how she overcame the many obstacles she faced growing up.

Ithaka

by Sarah Saffian

Sarah Saffian recreates her personal account of reuiniting with her birth family as an adult. Saffian expertly describes the adoptee perspective as well as the emotions associated with finding the missing pieces of one’s identity.

What's Happening in Pro-Family Legislation

One in eight couples of childbearing age in the United States has trouble conceiving or sustaining a pregnancy. Not being able to have a child is life altering and fundamental to the lives of so many men and women. Medical technology now offers more treatment options for people trying to conceive a child including hormone treatments, ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination. In addition, more advanced technologies like in-vitro fertilization, ICSI, surrogacy, egg/sperm donation and even embryo donation have become widely available. These advancements build families every day. The World Health Organization and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recognize infertility as a disease, yet access to infertility treatments is shrinking, and family building issues are in need of support. The following legislation is at the forefront for advocacy groups, supporters, and partners defending and promoting positive public policy for reproductive rights and the infertility community.

NY State Capitol Building

Support the Women’s Veterans and Families Health Services Act

Our country’s veterans deserve the nation’s full support. Those with severe reproductive injuries often need specialized treatments such as IVF in order to have a family, but IVF is excluded from Veteran Affair’s medical benefits. This bill provides veterans wounded in the line of duty with access to reproductive treatments and adoption assistance, permanently. 

Support The Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act

Adopting a child can be expensive. Since 1997, there has been bipartisan support in Congress for the Adoption Tax Credit (ATC). The ATC advances the important public goal of encouraging adoptions, especially of children with special needs. A tax credit helps only those who can use it-- the ATC needs to be made refundable so that low-to-moderate income families can afford to adopt children.  

Stop Personhood Bills

The Personhood movement asserts that a microscopic embryo is equivalent to a person and therefore is afforded the rights of a person. Personhood bills seek to limit IVF medical treatment and have the effect of reducing access to family building options to thousands of families. Since 1985, American parents have welcomed over 1 million babies born as a result of IVF. If personhood were the law, these children would never have been born. The United States should not prevent this life-giving treatment that is available in all other developed nations.

Support New York’s Child-Parent Security Act  

The Child-Parent Security Act, pending in New York, lifts the current ban on surrogacy and legalizes gestational carrier arrangements, where a woman can receive compensation to carry a pregnancy, but has no genetic link to the offspring. Since 1992, New York has banned compensatory surrogacy agreements, which means intended parents may not pay a surrogate to carry an embryo for them. Since the New York ban was enacted, the medical and legal fields around assistive reproductive technology and surrogacy have advanced significantly. This legislation allows for carefully regulated gestational carrier arrangements.  

To get more involved, and learn how you can help, in ways however big or small, check out RESOLVE.org, a non-profit, charitable organization, working to improve the lives of women and men living with infertility. 

Favorite Fall Recipes

Click on each image below to read the delicious recipes!

The Family Medical Leave Act and Adoption

For adoptive families, maternity and paternity leave may be a concern even before their child is born. Many adoptive parents are required to stay in the state where their child was born for a period of time to comply with Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. And of course, there is the hope that new parents will have maternity and paternity leave to care for their adopted child once the family is home. While most employers recognize adoption maternity leave, just as they would for any pregnant employee, there is a federal law which helps ensure that families are able to enjoy their first weeks with their adopted child, away from the workplace. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles adoptive parents to take unpaid job-protected leave to care for their new child provided that they are eligible employees working for covered employers.

ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES

Under the FMLA, individuals are eligible employees if:

• They work for a covered employer;

• They have worked for the employer for at least 12 months;

• They have at least 1,250 hours of service for the employer during the 12 month period immediately preceding the leave; and

• They work at a location where the employer has at least 50 employees.

COVERED EMPLOYERS

Under the FMLA, covered employers are:

• Private-sector employers with 50 or more employees in 20 or more work weeks in the current or preceding calendar year;

• Public agencies regardless of the number of employees it employs; or

• Public or private elementary or secondary schools, regardless of the number of employees it employs.

LEAVE ENTITLEMENT

Newly adoptive parents may take up to 12 work weeks of leave in a 12-month period. The leave is unpaid, job-protected and employers are required to restore employees to their original jobs or an equivalent job with equivalent pay, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment. Health insurance coverage continues without change or interruption during leave.

For more information about the FMLA please visit the United States Department of Labor website or call 1-866-487-9343.

The Dave Thomas Foundation

Yes - you can adopt as a single parent! The Dave Thomas Foundation celebrates all families that can provide a permanent and loving home for children in foster care. Learn more at davethomasfoundation.org.

Super Moist Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Ingredients:

1 stick unsalted butter room temperature
1 cup brown sugar packed
1 large egg beaten
3-4 ripe bananas mashed
2 cups all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup dark chocolate chips

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place a folded piece of parchment paper in a loaf pan and spray with cooking spray and set aside.

2. In large bowl, cream butter and sugar together for about 2 minutes until well combined. Add the egg and the mashed bananas. Mix for 20 seconds, scraping down the sides of the bowl.

3. Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and vanilla. Mix until well combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.

4. Pour the mixture into the loaf pan. Bake for 55-65 minutes until a knife inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. Let cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Serves 5-6

Gluten Free Caramel Apple Oatmeal Crisp

Ingredients:

2 cups gluten free oats
1 cup butter or margarine, melted
5 or 6 large apples, peeled, coarsely chopped
1 cup caramel topping
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray bottom and sides of 13x9 inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.

2. In large bowl, stir oats and melted butter until crumbly and set aside.

3. In another large bowl, toss apples, ½ cup of the caramel topping and the cinnamon. Spoon into baking dish and sprinkle with cookie mixture.

4. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender. In small microwavable dish, microwave remaining ½ cup of caramel topping uncovered on high for 20 seconds. Drizzle over crisp. Serve warm.

Serves 5-6

My Favorite Pumpkin Quick Bread/Muffins

Ingredients:

1 can pumpkin (2 cups)
2 cups sugar
1 cup canola or safflower oil
3 eggs
3 cups flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cloves
1 tsp cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup white or black raisins optional

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

2. Spray 2 large loaf pans with cooking spray.

3. Add and mix first 4 ingredients.

4. In separate large bowl, mix flour and spices.

5. Make a well in middle and add wet ingredients to dry.

6. Mix by hand and do not over mix. A few lumps are ok.

7. Divide batter among prepared loaf pans and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour. Test with a knife in middle of bread. It’s best if you don’t bake it till knife comes out completely dry. Can also make one loaf of bread and use remaining batter for muffins, but check after ½ hour.

Serves 5-6

Brunswick Stew

Ingredients:

2 large chicken breasts, on the bone, skin on
5 cups water
3 slices bacon, cut into 1inch pieces
1 large yellow onion, diced
1 28 ounce can whole tomatoes
2 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 bag frozen green peas, or lima beans (whichever preferred)
1 bag frozen corn
1 teaspoon sugar
2-3 teaspoon salt
Dash of red chili pepper flakes
Black pepper to taste
3 tablespoon butter, melted
3 tablespoon flour

Preparation:
1. In large soup pot, stew chicken, water, bacon, onion and 1teaspoon salt for 40 minutes over medium-low heat.
2. Remove chicken to a bowl, cool, skin and remove meat from bones. Cut or shred into small bite sized pieces and return to soup pot.
3. Add remaining ingredients, except for corn, butter and flour.
4. Cook for ½ hour, cutting tomatoes with a fork or knife as they stew.
5. Add corn.
6. Mix melted butter and flour in small bowl and add by the spoonful to stew. Adjust salt, pepper, red pepper flakes to taste.

Serves 5-6

Pregnant and Parenting College and Graduate Students’ Rights

Helpful information for college and graduate students who are pregnant while matriculating.   

http://nwlc.org/resources/pregnant-and-parenting-students-rights-faqs-college-and-graduate-students/

Teething Tips

Your poor baby is crying, drooling, feverish… in short, she is miserable! When I was a baby, the grandmothers used to say rub a little wine or brandy on her gums to dull the pain and help her sleep. They meant well, but I think we know better nowadays! How do we know whether our baby’s discomfort is due to teething, or if their symptoms are due to something else such as a virus? What are the safest and most effective ways to comfort our cranky babies?

The first teeth usually start to show up between 5 to 7 months of age, but every baby is different. Danelle Fisher, MD, chair of pediatrics at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Ca., explains that symptoms such as low-grade fever, diaper rash, fussiness and slight loss of appetite may be a sign of teething, but if any of your baby’s symptoms are not mild or last longer than 24 hours, you should consult your doctor, as it could indicate something more serious. WebMD notes that recent studies found that while teething may make babies cranky, it does not typically cause fever or serious digestion problems.

How do you relieve baby’s pain safely and effectively? My brother-in-law, a pediatric dentist, once told me that teething is like spending the day with a terrible headache. Use caution picking up a teething ring from the drug store. Many teethers, even those labeled BPA-free, or “non-toxic” have been found to contain levels of toxins, chemicals and endocrine disrupters. Jonas Sickler, from ConsumerSafety.org, says, “Since teething products are regulated by the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission), they don’t have the same chemical limits that the FDA requires for food and drugs. If you are unsure about a product, check with your pediatrician when choosing a pacifier or teether.

So what are the safest, most effective ways to relieve baby’s pain from teething? Experts from the Mayo Clinic suggest offering baby a cool, clean washcloth to chew on (partially wet the cloth and put in fridge or freezer until cold), a clean finger and gentle pressure may help as well. Keep babies skin dry to avoid irritation from excessive drool. If your doctor says it is ok, baby Tylenol can provide needed relief.

Summer Eating for the Whole Family

Summer is a time to unwind, simplify, and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. What a better place to start than in the kitchen. Follow these simple steps to help ease stress in the kitchen and enjoy and a few summer time recipes that are sure to become family favorites.

Nine Steps to Better Eating
by Suzanne Yearley, What’s For Dinner
Suzanne offers private and group cooking classes focusing on quick, tasty, and healthful meals for your family.

1. Plan ahead! Those last minute marketing trips and scrambling around the kitchen amp up the stress. Take a few minutes two or three times a week to think out meals for the next few days. You will save time and money by shopping less, buying specifically what you need, and using up what you have in the fridge.

2. Take the planning one step further and keep a grocery list on your computer. Print it out and check off what you need. Divide your list into sections the way that the grocery store is laid out. Follow your list as you walk through the store.

3. Keep a binder with recipes that you have made or want to try. When you don’t know what to cook, page through it and you will have a list at your fingertips. Many prefer this to a digital version, since it is easier to page through. But by all-means, for tech-savvy cooks, online files work too.

4. Put an end to mealtime complaining and get your kids involved. Let your kids select the dinner recipe a few times a week. Give them the responsibility of making the shopping list too. Older children and teens can even be responsible for helping to prep the meal. They are vested in the process and the outcome and more likely to eat their food.

5. Make the food attractive and appealing. Kids will be much more likely to try something that looks delicious.

6. Continue to put out new things. Kids who watch adults eating sweet potatoes may think they look good but may be hesitant to try them. Eventually, after watching the adults in their lives eat them they may take the plunge and find they are a favorite food.

7. Try new ingredients with flavors that your children like. For example, if your children love Asian food, get them to try, like and eat sautéed broccoli and greens, shrimp, and rice noodles by preparing them with Chinese or Thai seasonings.

8. The same is true for cooking method. If your kids like chicken fingers, try making fish sticks to introduce fish. If they like beef tacos and hamburgers, try using ground turkey instead. Once they have accepted a new ingredient, they will continue to eat it as you change how you prepare it.

9. Finally, eating with your children, even if it is a quick dinner at the kitchen island, is the best modeling. If they see you enjoying a healthy and varied diet, they will be more inclined to do the same. And the phone-free family-time (even if only for a few minutes) is priceless.

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SUMMER RECIPES

Click on each image below to read the delicious recipes!

Sweet Summer Corn Salad

Best-Ever Grilled Chicken

Watermelon Salad

Best-Ever Grilled Chicken

Best-Ever Grilled Chicken

by Suzanne Yearley, What’s for Dinner

Suzanne offers private and group cooking classes focusing on quick, tasty, and healthful meals for your family.

Ingredients:
1-2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 ½ to 2 lbs. thin-sliced, skinless, boneless chicken breast
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground pepper
¼-1/2 tsp. seasoning such as dried oregano, thyme, rosemary, ground cumin or smoked paprika
1 garlic clove
juice of 1 lemon or lime, optional

Preparation:
Place the chicken in a pie-plate or other low dish. Drizzle with oil. 

Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and desired seasoning. Crush the garlic with a garlic press and add to the chicken, using a fork to mix everything together. Set aside for 10-15 minutes.

Heat a cast iron skillet, grill or grill pan over high heat for 5-10 minutes. (Please note: no additional oil is needed!) 

Put the chicken in the pan, turn the heat down to medium-high, and cook the chicken, about 2-3 minutes per side, until cooked through.

Remove to a plate, top with fresh-squeezed lime or lemon juice if desired, and keep warm. 

Keeps for 3-4 days, refrigerated.

Serves 4-6

Sweet Summer Corn Salad

Sweet Summer Corn Salad

by Melissa Wetzstein, A Pure Life Nutrition

Melissa is a Holistic Nutritionist practicing in New York. She helps clients find their balance, through whole foods and healthy practices.

Ingredients for salad:
4 ears of corn, shucked
1 avocado, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 cup of strawberries, cut in quarters length wise
1 nectarine, ripe but firm, cubed with skin intact
1/2 small red onion, very thinly sliced
6 fresh basil leaves, rolled together and thinly sliced crosswise
1/2 a lime or lemon

Ingredients for dressing:
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. honey
fine sea salt and fresh pepper, to taste
Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl

Preparation:
Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil under high heat.  Add corn, reduce heat to medium and boil for 6-8 minutes until just cooked, but still slightly crisp. Remove corn from pot and into a colander to cool.

While corn is cooking, prep avocado, strawberries, nectarines, onion and basil leaves, and set aside. squeeze lime/lemon over avocado to keep from browning.

When the corn has cooled, place ear of corn (stem side down) in a serving bowl. Working your way down from top to bottom, use a serrated knife to cut kernels off the cob and into the bowl. Add remaining ingredients, salad dressing, and toss gently to coat using two serving spoons.

Serves 5-6

Watermelon Salad

Watermelon Salad

by Jared Goldberg, as adapted from J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

Jared is a Boston University student who works in pastry at Bar Boulud, New York City, and is a Teen Chopped Finalist.

Ingredients:
3 lbs watermelon (1 small one or ¼ of a large watermelon), rind removed and cut into cubes
1 large, ripe tomato, seeded and sliced into bite size pieces
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
3 tblsp olive oil
¼ cup roughly chopped mint
4 oz. crumbled feta

Preparation:
Put watermelon cubes and tomato in a large serving bowl.  Zest the lemon on top.  Then squeeze the lemon juice, add the olive oil, mint, and freshly ground pepper.  You may add a pinch of kosher salt but use sparingly because the feta is salty.  Mix to incorporate and lastly, crumble the feta on top.  Serve cold.
Serves 4-6