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525 N. State Street · Suite 4 · Alma, MI 48801
(989) 463-1422
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Fall, family, friends, smiles, laughs, and hugs are some of the best things in life and they are all free.
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About Us
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Child Advocacy is a non-profit agency with a mission to improve the welfare of children and their families through education, training, and support for the prevention of substance abuse and child abuse and neglect.
Our Staff
Audra Stahl
Executive Director
Pam Mahin
Office Manager
Ty Warczinsky
GCSAC Coordinator
Richelle Davis
Prevention Educator
Michelle Zombeck
CASA Coordinator
CAC Coordinator
Nicole Showers
CAC Case Manager
Staci Bigelow
Event/Volunteer Coordinator
Board of Directors
President
Wes Wickes
Youth for Christ
Vice President
Jennifer Leppien
CASA
Treasurer
Carolyn Studley
Community Representative
Steve Benn
Detective/Sgt.
MI State Police
Sara Bonacci
Sara Bonacci Photography
Wendy Currie
Mid MI District Health Dept
Colleen Davis
Prosecuting Attorney's Office
Rob DuHadway
DuHadway Dance Dimensions
Tammy Halfmann
Mercantile Bank
David Justin
Alma School Board
Mike Morris
Detective, Gratiot Co. Sheriff's Dept.
Jamie Richardson
Doehring Schultz Insurance Agency
Matt Schooley
City of Alma Transportation
Jennifer Siefker
Jennifer Stambaugh
DeafBlind Central CMU
Steve Vernon
Gratiot Co. Comm. Mental Health
Joe Yourchock
Community Representative
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| Car Seat Safety |
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Did you know that at Child Advocacy we can install and provide a safety inspection for your child safety seat? Child Advocacy has a nationally certified safety seat technician available!
To make an appointment call
989-463-1422
or 800-552-4489
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Permanent Prescription Drug Drop Off
Site
Gratiot Co. Sheriff
226 E. Center
Ithaca
open 24 hrs./day
7 days/week
Alma Police Dept.
525 E. Superior St.
Hours
8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday
Breckenridge Police Dept.
104 E. Saginaw St.
Hours
8:00 a.m.- 5:00
p.m.
Monday - Friday
St. Louis Police Dept.
108 W. Saginaw St.
Hours
Mon. 7 - 3
Tues. - Fri. 8 - 4
These sites accept
prescription pills and patches.
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Program Needs
Gas Cards
to help cover the cost for medical travel to Grand Rapids or help with transportation of foster children.
Gift Cards to Walmart and Meijer to purchase the specific needs of a child.
Drawing Paper
Puzzles
New Children's Books
Play-dough
Games for younger children to play
Capri Sun Juice Box's
Bottled Water
Community donations help the quality of our programs and are greatly appreciated. Donations can be made directly at Child Advocacy or by contacting our office. (989) 463-1422
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Your Feedback!
"I thought she had some good advice. I'm trying out different things she talked about !!!!"
Foster Parent Support Group
After hearing
Speaker - Brooke VanProoyen, MSW Program Manager, Adoptive Family Support Network talk about Self-Care: Managing the Impact of Stress on the Caring.
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Welcome fall!
This month we are featuring an article "Traveling to the State Capitol - Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Day" with information about the work done by the Children's Advocacy Center.
We are also excited to share information about Gratiot County's Foster Closet, upcoming events, and car seat importance.
See below for full details.
Enjoy,
Child Advocacy Staff
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Upcoming Events
Mom 2 Mom Sale
Saturday, October 15, 2016
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Youth for Christ
2550 W. Cheesman Rd. - Alma
Lunch & Learn
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
11:45 - 1:00 p.m.
Alma Public Library
351 N. Court Ave. - Alma
If you are interested in learning more about
CASA of Gratiot County please join us.
RSVP to Michelle Zombeck by 10/21/2016 at michelle@linkforfamilies.org or (989)463-1422.
Game Day Challenge
Fundraiser for the Children's Advocacy Center of
Gratiot County!
Bring $5 to work on
Friday, October 28th and sport your MSU or U of M gear!
Click here for complete details or to print the flyer, please call (989)463-1422 with any questions.
CASA Trivia Night
Saturday, November 19
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Alma Elks Lodge #1400 - Alma
Click here for complete details or to print the participant registration form.
Contact Michelle Zombeck at (989) 463-1422 for more information on this event.
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Traveling to the State Capitol
Awareness Day
By: Heather Therrien
Raising awareness about the work done by the Children's Advocacy Center of Gratiot County often extends well beyond the borders of our community and involves coordination and cooperation with CACs throughout the state. In September, we traveled to Lansing, joining over a dozen other Michigan CACs to educate our state legislators about the CAC Model.
On Tuesday, September 13th, the Michigan Chapter of the National Children's Alliance (MINCA)* hosted a Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Day at the State Capitol. Legislators and staff were invited to stop in for lunch and learn more about the work being done by Children's Advocacy Centers and meet with representatives from CACs in their districts.
The key message this year was as follows: At its core, the CAC model is about teamwork - bringing agency professionals involved in a case together on the front end - and about putting the needs of the child victim first. So rather than having a child taken from agency to agency throughout the law enforcement and child protection systems, and having to endure multiple, sequential interviews, the CAC model brings the system to the child, and brings agency professionals together to work in a collaborative approach that results in effective, efficient and child-centered casework.
While the purpose of the day is to interact with legislators, participating CACs also benefit from meeting face-to-face with each other to discuss policy and legislative issues as well as challenges and opportunities emerging here in Michigan.
Our trip to the State Capitol this year is part of an ongoing effort to raise awareness about our work among legislators. Child Advocacy regularly engages our district's elected representatives at both the state and national level, has hosted several of them here at our office and consistently keeps them apprised of our work and accomplishments here in Gratiot County.
*The National Children's Alliance is the accrediting agency for Children's Advocacy Centers throughout the United States.
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The Foster Closet
The Foster Closet of Michigan provides clothing, underclothing, toys, baby gear, hygiene items and furniture to children placed in the foster care system in Michigan. These are new or gently used items that have been donated. The families may utilize the Closet as often as the need arises.
The goal is to provide a shopping experience for the children. They are able to pick out stylish new or like new clothing and other personal items. The aim is to begin the process of rebuilding their self-esteem and providing them with belongings they can call their own.
A branch of the Foster Closet is now open in Gratiot County. It is located in the basement of the St. Louis First Church of God, and is open for donations and shopping every Thursday from 5-7 pm. In case of emergency placement, the closet is able to meet outside that set time.
The address is 520 Olive St, St Louis MI 48880 and the toll free number is 800-554-4966.
If you are interested in donating to The Foster Closet please visit there wishlist registry,
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Car Seat Importance
By: Pam Mahin
Child Safety Seat Technician
With car crashes on the rise in the U.S., it is more important than ever to make sure children are buckled up. While most families put kids in car seats, 6 out of 10 are installed incorrectly. To help families protect kids on the move, Safe Kids Worldwide has a new resource:
The Ultimate Car Seat Guide. The Guide offers easy to understand tips on how to choose and use a car seat. Parents and caregivers can now get helpful tips for free, right on their phone, tablet, or computer.
If you have tried several different methods to try to get your seat in properly and still can't seem to get it right, or you just want it checked to make sure it is in properly, feel free to give me a call and I will gladly help you out.
Not all seats are easy to figure out how to install, as they are all different as well as all cars are different.
Pam can be reached at (989)463-1422 to answer any questions or to help install car seats properly.
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Scheduled Classes
Foster/Adoptive/Relative Care Support Group
Tuesday, October 11
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
New Location: East Superior Christian Church - Alma
Please call our office at (989) 463-1422 to register for the class.
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It's hard to believe I am writing yet another newsletter blurb. Time is going way to fast!
The passing of time means that Summer has ended and Fall is here. With a new school year underway all of our programs are back in full swing. If you have a 1st or 3rd grader attending school in Gratiot County then they will be receiving the Protect Yourself program. Mrs. Davis, our Protect Yourself teacher, will be teaching a series of safety lessons to children in Gratiot County. The safety lessons teach children how to protect themselves from abuse, abduction, and most importantly to "tell someone" if abuse is taking place. Please watch for parent notes from Mrs. Davis explaining each lesson, so you can continue these important conversations at home.
Trivia Night is right around the corner! You won't want to miss this fun event. Sign up early as space is limited. (See above for details)
As I am writing this we are in the process of interviewing candidates for 3 new positions we have here at the agency. This is an exciting time for Child Advocacy! I hope to be able to share information on our new employees in next month's newsletter.
Enjoy all the beauty that Fall brings to our great State.
Sincerely,
Audra Stahl
Executive Director
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