CA with tag line 

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


"Sometimes the people around you won't understand your journey. They don't need to, it's not for them ."
                                        
- Helen R. Little

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
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

Have you heard the BUZZ? 
Child Advocacy is hosting our 2nd annual Adult Spelling Bee on February 1st. We hope you can join us, more details 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.

2nd Annual Child Advocacy Spelling Bee

Saturday, February 1, 2020
Doors open at 6:30, Spelling begins at 7:30
Alma Elks Lodge #1400 - Alma

Eight Person Teams! Lightning Round with Top Spellers!
Appetizers! Cash Bar! Gift Basket Auction!

There is a 20 team limit so Register or Sponsor today!
Please  click here to print a team registration form or call (989)463-1422 for more information. 

If you are interested in donating a gift basket for this event please contact Staci at staci@linkforfamilies.org.
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month
Submitted by: Nicole Showers
CAC Case Manager

 
January is delegated as Human Trafficking Awareness Month to raise awareness on the issue of human trafficking and the immense impact that it is having on our society. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline there were 10,949 cases of human trafficking reported to the hotline in 2018; compared to the 8,773 cases reported in 2017. These numbers are evidentiary of an ever-growing human rights issue. In an attempt to raise more awareness on this issue, January 11 th has been established as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. The Department of Homeland Security has launched the Blue Campaign, asking everyone to wear BLUE on this day and share photos to social media with the hashtag #WearBlueDay.

Please join Child Advocacy as we wear our BLUE to show our support for raising awareness on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Make sure to encourage everyone around you to partake in #WearBlueDay and to send Child Advocacy your photos with the hashtag #WearBlueDay so they can be shared on our Facebook page.

If you are interested in learning more about human trafficking please contact Child Advocacy.
2020: They Need You!
Submitted by: Rachel Letsche
CASA Recruitment Coordinator

"There will always be obstacles and challenges that stand in your way. Building mental strength will help you develop resilience to those potential hazards so you can continue on your journey to success."
- Amy Morin

In August, Child Advocacy presented a Lunch and Learn on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), by two trainers through the MI-ACE-Initiative. This training provided education to the community about what ACEs are and what communities can do to counter the effects of trauma.

This study uncovered a link between childhood trauma and negative life outcomes- substance abuse, chronic health conditions, and early death. The results were alarming: 64% of individuals had at least one of the ten types of childhood trauma, and 12.5% of individuals had more than four. Research has been done that shows that toxic stress can physically damage a child's developing brain (Centers of Disease Control and Prevention). 

There is light at the end of the tunnel: this does not necessarily mean that a child will experience poor outcomes. A child's positive experiences (or protective factors) can prevent them from experiencing adversity and can protect against many of the negative health and life outcomes even after adversity has occurred. This is also known as resilience.

One protective factor is having one positive person in their life that can provide positive experiences, and support during difficult times. That person could be a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Our CASA Volunteers advocate for children that have experienced abuse and/or neglect and helped them navigate the permanency process. CASA is a volunteer opportunity where adults, who have a passion for helping children, complete a specialized training and ensure that a child's needs and best interests are met. If you would like to learn more about how you can change a child's story attend our next CASA and Coffee on the third Tuesday every month and/or Child Advocacy's February Lunch and Learn. There is a child that needs you to speak up and be their voice.
 
Additional Information: 
 
Scheduled Classes
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Lunch & Learn
**The January lunch and learn will be held on January 9th**
1st Thursday of every month
Alma Public Library
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m

January Topic: The Truth About Electronic Cigarettes.
Presented by: Emily Rayburn, GCSAC Coordinator

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 New Year!
We have great news to share with all of you this month.  We are $300,000 away from reaching our goal of $2,650,000 for our new building project.  After a year of seeking donations the end is finally in sight.  We would love to speak with you about donation and naming opportunities for our new building.  If you are interested in being a part of this project please contact me for more information.  2020 is going to be the best year yet with a new building, more programs, fun events, and more children and families served in Gratiot County!  Can't you just feel the excitement?

Sincerely,
Audra Stahl
President & CEO