CA with tag line 

 525 N. State Street · Suite 4 · Alma, MI 48801 
(989) 463-1422

"The greatest legacy we can leave our children is happy memories ."
                                        
- Og Mandino

In This Issue
About Us 

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 
President & CEO 
 
Pam Mahin
Office Manager

Staci Bigelow
Event/Volunteer Coordinator

Ty Warczinsky 
GCSAC Program Director
 
Emily Rayburn
GCSAC Coordinator

Sara Krebs 
GCSAC Prevention
 Coordinator
 
 
Alexa Morton
 GCSAC Prevention Educator
 
Morgan Rooy
CAN Program Director
 
 Richelle Davis 
CAN Prevention Educator
 
Michelle Zombeck 
 CASA Program Director    
 
Rachel Letsche
CASA Recruitment Coordinator
 
Heather Therrien  
CAC Program Director

Jennifer Stambaugh
CAC Victim Advocate
 
Nicole Showers
CAC Case Manager

Nikky Holton
CAC Intake Coordinator
 
 
Board of Directors  

President
Carolyn Studley
Community 
Representative
   
Vice President 
Jennifer Leppien
Community Representative

Secretary
Jamie Richardson
Doehring Schultz Insurance Agency
   
Treasurer
Sara Bonacci
Community 
Representative

Garth Anderson
Commercial Bank

Brett Baublitz
Transportation Director/City of Alma

Colleen Davis
Prosecuting Attorney's Office 
   
Jim Dubey
Garr Tool 

Rob DuHadway
DuHadway Dance Dimentions

Tom Fick
Michigan State Police

Tammy Halfmann
Mercantile Bank

David Justin
 Alma School Board
 
John Morey
CPA

Mike Morris
Gratiot County Sheriff
     
Alison Morrison
Dept. of Health and Human Services 
 
Jennifer Siefker
Tri-Lakes Petroleum

Michelle Stillwagon
Gratiot Integrated Health Network

Katie Tobias
Katie Tobias State Farm

Annette Weller-Collison
Kahn Consulting, INC.
 
Mark Williams
Alma Public Safety Administrator 

Car

Seat Safety

 

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   Please see new carseat guidelines on our website.
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.  
8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday
 
Breckenridge Police Dept.
 104 E. Saginaw St.
8:00 a.m.- 5:00  p.m.
Monday - Friday
 
St. Louis Police Dept.
300 N. Mill St.
Mon. 7 - 3 
Tues. - Fri. 8 - 4 
 
These sites accept
prescription pills and patches.
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 Boxes
Bottled Water

Baby Pantry

Infant Formula
(yellow can)
Gentle Formula
(purple can)
Diapers 
size 5 & 6
WIPES
Newborn clothing
Quart-sized zip-lock bags
Blankets

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

Quick Links

 
Join Our Mailing List

Calling all Princesses and Pirates! Please join us at our Princess & Pirate Family Carnival & Expo. This event has something for everyone! Details can be found below. 

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter,
Staci Bigelow
Volunteer/Event Coordinator 
Check out our website www.linkforfamilies.org .

Princess & Pirate Family Carnival & Expo
Saturday, January 25th, 2020
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Central Michigan Youth for Christ - Alma

FREE admission to Gratiot County Residents! FREE refreshments!

FREE Kids Activities FREE Information for families
- Make and take crafts     - Special Princess & Pirate Guests
- Local Businesses           - Prescription Drop Box
- games and prizes          - Recreation organizations/clubs

For more information please contact Child Advocacy at (989)463-1422 or Staci@linkforfamilies.org or to register as a vendor please click here to print off a registration form.
Above the Influence 
Leadership Summit
Submitted by: Alexa Morton
CGCSAC Prevention Educator

The Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition (GCSAC) held our first annual Above the Influence Leadership Summit on October 1, 2019. This would not have been possible without the support from the Gratiot County Community Foundation and Clyde and Maude Mizer Memorial Fund.

Twelve of our ATI students gathered at the Gratiot/Isabella RESD where first they heard Daniel Gaken who is the Director of the Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute at Central Michigan University. Daniel discussed with the students that they are not the leaders of tomorrow, but the leaders of today and instilled motivation in them to continue to be the leaders of this county. Next, the students worked together to brainstorm ideas and planning events to raise awareness on for the 2019-2020 school year. Lastly, because of how hard these leaders work they were awarded with pizza and bowling to end the day.

We are excited for the future Above the Influence Leadership Summits, and can't wait to see the awesome work our young leaders of Gratiot County are going to do in our community. The Above the Influence (ATI) students work hard all year to bring awareness of positive and negative influences that they feel like are most prevalent in our community. These events provide the community with information and give their peers motivation to rise above negative influences in their life. ATI plays a major role in allowing our students to have a voice in promoting a healthy lifestyle.

If you or someone you know would like to join Above the Influence, please contact Alexa Morton at alexa@linkforfamilies.org
We would like to thank our community partners who provided the opportunities to make this day happen: Gratiot County Community Foundation, Clyde and Maude Mizer Memorial Fund, Child Advocacy, Gratiot County Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention Coalition, Gratiot/Isabella RESD, Daniel Gaken from CMU, Screen and Stitch Printing, and PINs Bar and Grill.

Resiliency Kits 
Submitted by: Nikky Holton
CAC Intake Coordinator

Resiliency is a person's ability to bounce back from adverse experiences. At the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC), we understand the importance of resiliency and how it can positively impact the healing process after trauma. In an effort to promote a healthy and positive outlet for CAC clients, we will be rolling out Resiliency Kits this month! These kits provide our clients the opportunity to develop a personal strategy for enhancing resilience through journaling. Journaling is a simple and effective way to explore ideas, emotions, hopes, disappointments, and dreams which can become overwhelming when kept inside. Our goals behind the Resiliency Kits are to make overwhelming thoughts and feelings more manageable, promote self-expression, and foster personal growth in our clients. 
                       
Our clients will have the opportunity to build their own kit by choosing a notebook, pen, stickers, and linguistically appropriate worksheets to work through to enhance self-awareness and pin-point positive and negative behaviors. We are so proud of our clients and are excited to provide them with a tangible resource to enhance resiliency and begin a path to healing!          


"When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we are not alone."
-    Mister Rogers
Scheduled Classes
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Lunch & Learn
1st Thursday of every month
Alma Public Library
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m

Child Advocacy will be hosting monthly lunch & learns on a variety of topics. We hope you will join us. Please email Staci at staci@linkforfamilies.org to RSVP or call (989)463-1422.
Happy Holidays!
In this season of giving thanks our team is thankful for the support of our community.  It is with your help, support, encouragement, and time that we are able to serve the families we come in contact with each day.  Thank you!

Have a safe and happy holiday season!
Sincerely,
Audra Stahl
President & CEO