College Savings & Other Savings Funds for Foster Kids?

How many of you who are foster parents have opened savings accounts for your foster children for their future, whether for college, vocational training, or ongoing care needs?

What kind of account, and how much do you put into it?

What will you do if your child is reunified to help them with the college / other future expenses, if anything?

If you save for your foster kids, why? If you don't, why not?

If your child is unlikely to ever end up in a college setting due to disabilities, what ways do you help prepare for their future?

I would love to hear how other foster and pre-adoptive parents have dealt with the question of saving money for the future of children who are not (yet) legally ours. No judgment here, just true curiosity about how other foster families approach this issue.

FREE Webinar on Adoption Assistance Advocacy

Don't miss this webinar on adoption assistance advocacy from the National Council on Adoptable Children.  Don't miss this seminar if you have questions about how adoptive parents, foster parents, and anyone who is an advocate for children can help push legislators to maintain tax credits, subsidies and other support for families that adopt. I know I'm not the only one who's wondered what can be done to extend the refundable adoption tax credit, or whether subsidies for special needs adoptions will be reduced as the economy continues to falter.

Adoption Assistance Advocacy
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
2:30 p.m. CST

With state and provincial budgets continuing to be tight, adoptive parents, adoption professionals, and other child advocates will need to be vigilant in case legislators seek to balance budgets by reducing adoption assistance benefits. In this session, Adoption Subsidy Resource Center project coordinator Josh Kroll will explore advocacy strategies to maintain and enhance adoption subsidy programs.

Register here for Adoption Assistance Advocacy webinar.

DIY Waldorf Dolls - Make Your Own Multicultural Baby Dolls

I have to apologize for the hiatus from the blog. Things have been challenging, with multiple family crises / transitions, so blogging was low on the list of priorities. But I'm back, and can't wait to share some ideas, questions, steals and deals with you all.

Photo from LivingCrafts.com

Today I came across this instructional post on how to make your own Waldorf dolls on the Living Crafts Blog. For the crafty among us, what a great way to make a soft, durable, lovable baby doll that can be made to reflect any child's skin tone and hair color. Waldorf dolls have minimal facial features and are often quite gender neutral in appearance. Because they are not hyper-realistic they are beloved for the way they inspire a child's own imagination. They are so much more huggable and squeezable than plastic dolls, and more eco-friendly. I grew up with Waldorf dolls of my own which have held up over time. You can make a baby doll with short hair or try using yarn to create braids or ponytails. Check it out. For a limited time you can download the pattern for free (click on the link for the PDF).