REDMOND, Washington (March 19, 2013)–Hopelink, an organization dedicated to helping underprivileged individuals and families in King and Snohomish counties in Washington state, recently announced the dates for its End Summer Hunger campaign, which will run from April through August. The organization is encouraging all of its supporters, including longtime proponent Jonathan Milstein, to participate to make this event a huge success.

According to Feeding America, the leading hunger relief organization in the nation, more than 50 million Americans go hungry each day. This equates to approximately one out of six people, including more than one out of five children. Donations from the End Summer Hunger campaign will be distributed among the five Hopelink service centers in east and north King County.

For more than four decades, Hopelink has provided services to individuals and families in need. Its services include assistance in the areas of adult education, family development, food, housing, and transportation.

Jonathan Milstein is a longtime supporter and volunteer for Hopelink. Aside from his charitable interests, he serves as an attorney at Puget Sound Professional Legal Services, where he focuses on family law matters. Prior to his current position, Jonathan Milstein served as an assistant attorney general for the Washington State Attorney General's Office.

Jonathan Milstein

From its headquarters in Seattle, EarthCorps supports a range of programs that help bolster the regional community through comprehensive environmental service. The nonprofit’s origins stretch back to 1993, when returning Peace Corps volunteer Dwight Wilson undertook efforts to apply the fundamental mission of the Peace Corps to environmental projects in the Cascade mountain range from Vancouver, Washington to Vancouver, British Columbia. Mr. Wilson’s organization was initially known as Cascadia Quest.

In 1995, Cascadia Quest began partnering with a variety of government agencies, businesses and community associations throughout the greater Seattle region. To reflect this expanded involvement, the organization took on the additional name of King County World Conservation Corps. To simplify matters, the pithy name EarthCorps was adopted in 1999, conveying the group’s firm commitment to environmental service and global understanding. Today, the organization supports dozens of staff members and a regional volunteer base that numbers in the tens of thousands.

About the Author: Jonathan Milstein is a Kirkland, Washington lawyer who previously served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Washington State Attorney General's Office. Outside of the office, he has a long history of involvement with a variety of charities and community outreach groups.

Jonathan Milstein, attorney, is the founder of Puget Sound Professional Legal Services, a firm focused on family law, including adoption law.

Many families dream of adopting a child, and many foster children dream of being adopted. While this may be true, there are also many perpetual myths. Some people believe that adopters must be wealthy homeowners to qualify. The truth is, adopting from U.S. foster care is usually free, and high income, home ownership, and existing children are not required.

Another common myth is that sibling relationships among foster children are unimportant. In reality, siblings in the foster care system are often very strongly bonded. Placing the children together is usually the best option for the children, as it helps keep things similar and prevents them from experiencing yet another loss.

Families who are considering adopting are strongly recommended to research the topic thoroughly. The adoption process is long, often taking about a year from initial outreach to child placement. By planning ahead, remaining patient, and being prepared, families can make the most of the adoption process and be ready to bring a new child into their lives.

By Jonathan Milstein

The Kinship Care Solutions Project helps children who can no longer live safely with their parents find a secure and supportive home in the custody of relatives or unrelated caregivers with whom they have a strong and established relationship. A pro bono program established by Washington State’s King County Bar Association, the project offers free legal assistance for those seeking third-party (or nonparental) custody of a child or children. It serves individuals with economic challenges who are residents of King County or whose cases are subject to the jurisdiction of the King County Superior Court. 

Before taking a case, the Kinship Care Solutions Project considers the following important factors: whether the parents represent a genuine risk to the child’s well-being; how long (if at all) a child has resided with a nonparental caregiver and whether the caregiver offers a safe and reliable environment; and whether the caregiver cannot easily find a volunteer attorney elsewhere and would have difficulty bringing a custody case without legal representation. The project does not offer assistance in adoption cases, in dependency cases (unless the parents and foster caregiver have agreed to a custodial arrangement), or to parents in general.

About the Author:
Jonathan Milstein is an attorney and owner of Puget Sound Professional Legal Services. Mr. Milstein regularly volunteers with the Kinship Care Solutions Project. 

A non-profit founded seven decades ago, the Kindering Center furnishes educational services to children with disabilities, medical challenges, and vulnerabilities stemming from a history of abuse. As the largest early intervention institution in the state of Washington, and among the largest in the United States, the Kindering Center offers a comprehensive range of services that sets it apart from similar organizations. Those services focus on promoting the development of children through special education methodologies. Importantly, the Kindering Center believes the first three years of a child’s life offer significant possibilities for development, hence its commitment to early intervention. 

For those who would like to get involved with the Kindering Center, several volunteer opportunities await. Volunteers help by working as delivery drivers, providing bilingual classroom support, assisting in the office, maintaining facilities, and serving on governing bodies like the Auction Planning Committee. The Kindering Center volunteers include individuals as well as families and corporations. Companies like Microsoft, Boeing, and Telephone Pioneers have contributed the time and energy of their employees to the Kindering Center projects like repairing equipment and landscaping. For individuals, commitments often times require a few hours a week. 

Learn more about the Kindering Center volunteer positions at Kindering.org or by calling its Development Department at (425)-653-4294.

A former Kindering Center volunteer, Attorney Jonathan Milstein currently represents clients through Puget Sound Professional Legal Services.

Located in Bellevue, Washington, the Kindering Center provides care and education to infants and children with special needs, such as those with autism spectrum disorder. The recipient of the Seattle Foundation Chairman's Award, the Safeco Rudy Award, and four Duncan Awards from Seattle's Children Hospital, this facility has acquired numerous honors throughout its history. 

Individuals interested in enrolling their child in the Kindering Center must go through an intake process. The first step involves professionals testing the toddler's cognitive, communication, physical, and emotional development. If the child qualifies, a Family Resource Coordinator will organize a meeting between the facility's staff and the parents to develop a plan of action. Services available at the Kindering Center include early childhood special education, speech and language therapy, physical and occupational therapy, and early intervention. 

About the Author: For several years, Jonathan Milstein has tended to clients as an attorney and as the owner of Puget Sound Professional Legal Services. Milstein volunteers at the Kindering Center.

Based out of Seattle and on the Eastside of Washington, Puget Sound Professional Legal Services serves as a law firm dedicated to family law. Counseling clients in divorce, child support, and non-parental custody, it also assists with matters concerning mental health, substance abuse, and domestic violence. Moreover, Puget Sound Professional Legal Services offers several unique options to its clients. It functions as the only law firm in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties to employ licensed social workers during supervised visits with children. Aware that people might be encountering financial difficulties, this firm uses a sliding payment scale for qualified individuals based on their income, as well as for persons affiliated with the state’s Department of Social and Health Services.

To hire Puget Sound Professional Legal Services, visit www.pugetsoundlegalservices.com. The site contains information about booking a free initial consultation with its lawyers. 

About the Author:

Since 2009, Jonathan Milstein has owned and performed as an attorney with Puget Sound Professional Legal Services. Milstein previously acted as the Assistant Attorney General for the State of Washington.

There is substantial evidence that productive child visitations can reduce conflict and improve the child-parent relationship, contributing to a healthier emotional and home life for the child. Jonathan Milstein established Children First Visitation & Transportation Services as a vehicle to provide children and parents with supportive services during visits. A lawyer with 15 years of experience practicing law, Milstein ensures that his staff is highly trained in all aspects of family law that affect children, including laws relating to parental abuse, neglect, substance abuse, and parental alienation.

During the visits, social workers keep meticulous notes documenting what occurred and any issues that came up regarding the child’s comfort or safety. They share this information with both parents within 48 hours of the visit. Children First serves King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties in Washington. To learn more about Jonathan Milstein and Children First, please visit www.childrenfirstvts.com.