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Connections is published by Northwest Media, Inc., for free

redistribution by its affiliate agencies and customers.

© 2013 by Northwest Media, Inc.

In This Issue ...

“Partnering For f

Permanency” Theme for National Adoption Month

A Note About f

Devices and FosterParentCollege.com®

Opportunities f

Carefree Cooking f

Famous No Coffee -

Pumpkin Latte

Caramelized Pumpkin -

and Pear Crumble

Kids Korner f

November Word Find -

Decoupage Pumpkins -

“Partnering For Permanency” Theme for National Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Month in the USA, a time to raise awareness about the urgent need for adoptive families for kids in foster care. The 2013 focus builds on last year’s goal of harnessing the power of social media to recruit and retain parents for the over 100,000 children and teens in foster care waiting for permanent families. This year, the initiative promotes greater collaboration between agencies and organizations to pair kids with families.

The typical child who has been freed for adoption is at least eight years old, has moved three or more times in foster care, may have been separated from siblings, and will wait five years or longer to be adopted. Tens of thousands of them will leave the system sometime between the age of 18 and 21 without families to support them as they find their way in the adult world. Few will attend college or trade school and many will fall into poverty and/or crime.

The annual ef for t to raise awareness about adoption began in 1976 in Massachusetts, when then-Gov. Michael Dukakis announced the first Adoption Week. The idea proved popular and spread across the country. Later that year, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Adoption Week, and then in 1990, because so many states were participating, President Bill Clinton expanded the week to an entire month. Now, most states have events during November to raise awareness about the need for adoptive and foster families.

The Children's Bureau sponsors the National Adoption Month initiative through a par tnership with AdoptUSKids and Child Welfare Information Gateway.

To learn about events in your area, visit http://www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/nam/.

A high point in the month is National Adoption Day, slated for November 23. Since it began in 2000 more than 44,000 adoptions have been finalized on Adoption Day. The goal for this year is to finalize adoptions on that date in all 50 states. For information, visit http://www.nationaladoptionday.org/.

Sound Off !

The Connections staff wants to hear from you. What do you like about this monthly newsletter? What would you like to see more of? Are the articles helpful?

Please email ideas to:press@northwestmedia.com

November 2013

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Connections - FosterParentCollege.com® November 2013

Opportunities

Train now, before the holiday busy-ness starts. Kids will be on school break in no time at all, so this is the perfect time to log in to your FosterParentCollege.com account and get some of your required training done. Forgot your password? We can help! Click “Send a Comment” at the top of the website and we’ll help you out.

Walk Me Home....to the place I belong events are scheduled for Nov. 23 in Gardendale, AL and Clark County, NV. These are fundraising and awareness building 5K walks hosted by the National Foster Parent Association. To register to walk, to sponsor a walker, or to find out about organizing a walk in your area visit http://nfpaonline.org/wmh.

Advanced Parent ing Workshops are open for enrollment. It is possible to jump into a workshop at any time and complete it at your own pace. As always, completing a workshop yields six hours of training credit.

Learn how taking FPC classes benefits the National Foster Parent Association . Visit www.fosterparentcollege.com and click on the NFPA logo.

Yes, you CAN reprint articles from this newsletter. Please notify us of your plans, and on the article state the story is “Reprinted with permission from FosterParentCollege.com® Connections.” Email Lisa at press@northwestmedia.com.

A Note About Devices and FosterParentCollege.com®

A d o b e F l a s h P l a y e r i s r e q u i r e d t o v i e w FosterParentCollege.com® classes. Please refer to your device manual to determine if it supports Adobe Flash. Apple iPad and iPhone do not support Adobe Flash and you will not be able to view FPC courses on these devices at this time.

Click this link below to learn more about Adobe Flash Player:

http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer

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Connections - FosterParentCollege.com® November 2013

Carefree Cooking

Famous No Coffee Pumpkin LatteThis is a warm and creamy rich pumpkin drink that tastes like a Starbucks® pumpkin latte, without the coffee.

Ingredients: 1 cup pumpkin puree X

1 quart milk X

¼ cup white sugar X

1 teaspoon ground X

cinnamon

1 Tablespoon vanilla X

extract

Directions: Combine pumpkin, milk, sugar, cinnamon, 1.

and vanilla in a large saucepan over medium heat. Use a whisk to blend well.

Heat to a simmer; do not boil. Adjust 2.

sweetness and spices to taste.

May add hot coffee, if desired. 3.

From Allrecipes.com, submitted by RescueRanger (image: http://

allrecipes.com/recipe/famous-no-coffee-pumpkin-latte/)

Caramelized Pumpkin and Pear Crumble

Ingredients: 2 large ripe pears, X

peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

14 tablespoons X

unsalted butter, cold

1/2 cup maple X

syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla X

extract

2 teaspoons ground X

ginger

1/2 teaspoon X

ground cinnamon

2 15-ounce cans X

pumpkin puree

1 1/4 cups all- X

purpose flour

1/2 cup packed X

light brown sugar

1/2 cup walnut X

pieces

Directions: In a nonstick skillet over medium heat, 1.

combine pears, 4 tablespoons of butter, maple syrup, vanilla, and spices and cook until the pears are tender, 9 to 10 minutes. Add pumpkin and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Place the flour, brown sugar, and 2.

remaining butter in a bowl. With your fingers, work the butter into the dry ingredients until large crumbs form. Add the walnuts and combine well.

Heat oven to 375° F.3.

In a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, spread 4.

the pumpkin-pear mixture evenly on the bottom. Sprinkle the topping over it and bake until golden brown and bubbling, about 40 to 50 minutes. Serve warm.

From RealSimple.com

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November Word Find Fun – Hang this page on your fridge for your children’s enjoyment.

There are many ways to show you appreciate a person, a kindness, or a gift. In this word search, you might get some ideas for ways to show gratitude.

I D M U F J K A J S M L A U G H H Q K Q

Z H W K T B D C B G U Z Z I H M T P V Q

F I V E X S K F T P U L E Y C N U R J B

S M C M E H E K A H S D N A H G I H Z A

W D A H Z Z P H L U Z Q Q A P J X H U G

Q J L V N W P N H O G R A T E F U L R L

K Y L B J N P Q I V L Y J T O L D T H J

Z E T A I C E R P P A N W N E S I K D L

X W N K N F J V X C W H I O V S M M P Y

H N I J C J S K N A H T L T X K R D S U

O V W T M L Y H P Z L E N E F A C H T X

Word Key:

Thanks X

Grateful X

Appreciate X

Smile X

Hug X

Laugh X

Handshake X

Note X

Call X

High Five X

November 2013FosterParentCollege.com®

Kids Korner

Kids Krafts – Decoupage Pumpkins

This simple craft is fun. Use an artificial pumpkin if you want it to last forever.

What You Will Need:

Real or artificial pumpkin X

Colored tissue paper or thin X

paper with patterns

Paintbrushes X

Mod Podge or watered- X

down white glue

How To Make Them:

Gather tissue paper or other paper, several paintbrushes, 1.

and a container of Mod Podge or watered-down white glue.

Working on a protected surface, simply tear the paper into 2.

squares and paste them in place. Double layers of tissue produce bold colors. Add a topcoat of Mod Podge to give the finish durability.

Idea: use an artificial pumpkin and pet or family photos 3.

printed off your computer to make a family memento.