CA with tag line 

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


When you compliment your children, praise them for inner qualities such as kindness, honesty, and perseverance so they will strive to contribute to the world in meaningful ways.

-Toni Schutta
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 Whipple
GCSAC Coordinator

Sara Krebs 
GCSAC Prevention
 Coordinator
 
 

 GCSAC Prevention Educator
 
Morgan Rooy
CAN Program Director
 
 Richelle Davis 
CAN Prevention Educator
 
Michelle Zombeck 
 CASA Program Director    
 
Danielle Schmidtman
CASA Recruitment Coordinator
 
Heather Therrien  
CAC Program Director

Jennifer Stambaugh
CAC Victim Advocate
 
Nicole Showers
CAC Case Manager

Mallory Harrier
CAC Intake Coordinator
 
 
Board of Directors  

President
Carolyn Studley
Community Represenative
   
Vice President 
Matt Schooley
Alma City Manager
 
Secretary

   
Treasurer
Sara Bonacci
Community 
Represenative

Colleen Davis
Prosecuting Attorney's Office 
   
Jim Dubey
Garr Tool

Rob DuHadway
DuHadway Dance Dimensions 

Tammy Halfmann
Mercantile Bank

David Justin
 Alma School Board
  
Jennifer Leppien
CASA

John Morey
CPA

Mike Morris
Detective/Sgt. Gratiot Co. Sheriff's Dept. 
     
Alison Morrison
Dept. of Health and Human Services 
   
Jamie Richardson
Doehring Schultz Insurance Agency

Jennifer Siefker
Tri Lakes Petroleum
  
Steve Vernon
 Gratiot Integrated Health Network
 
Mark Williams
Alma Public Safety Administrator 

Joe Yourchock
Community Representative


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
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.
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
Parent's Choice™ Gentle or Enfamil Gentlease® Formula (purple can) 
Diapers- Sizes 3, 5, 6, 7 
Wipes 
Training Pants- All Sizes 
Boy's Summer Clothes Sizes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
 Girl's Summer Clothes Sizes 5, 6


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

Your Feedback!

Thank you for teaching me all that safety stuff. I wouldn't of been safe without you and my Mom's advice. You did a lot, stay safe and do your best. 

Protect Yourself Student who completed the program with Mrs. Davis.

Quick Links

 
Join Our Mailing List

Back to school time!  
 
The annual Back to School event is coming soon - details below.  
 
Our CASA program is seeking volunteers to meet the needs of Gratiot County children.  Please help spread the word.


Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter,
Staci Bigelow
Volunteer/Event Coordinator 
Check out our website www.linkforfamilies.org .
Summer Hours
Starting the week of June 11  
Monday - Thursday
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Limited staff on Fridays, please call ahead.
Car Seats are by appointment only. 

New Experience
Submitted by: Jennifer Stambaugh
CAC Victim Advocate
 

New Experience - A Master of Social Work (MSW) Intern joins the Children's Advoca cy Center for t he summer.
As one of the four pro
grams of Child Advocacy, the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC)  p rovides a safe,  child-friendly setting for children and their families when there is a possibility of child physical or sexual abuse. T he mission of the CAC includes promoting community collaboration to support and meet the needs of children and their  families, while keeping the safety and well-being of the child the first priority. To further assist in meeting those needs, this summer an MSW intern has joined the team! 

Brogan Holmes, MSW intern, started her summer internship with the CAC on July 2nd. Brogan is a recent graduate from the University of Detroit Mercy with a Bachelors of Social Work. She is currently enrolled in the MSW program at Michigan State University. Brogan is the first MSW intern assigned to work in the CAC. Brogan enjoys working with children, which was what prompted her to contact the Children's Advocacy Center about a possible internship opportunity. She plans to work as a school social worker once she has completed her degree. 

She is currently assisting the CAC with groups, workshops, family advocacy, and is conducting follow-ups to help determine interest/needs to guide the d
irection of future program development for families. We will miss her when once she has completed her hours in August, but look forward to having additional MSW interns in the future.
Back to School Event
Wednesday, August 15th
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
St. Louis Church of Christ
1075 W. Monroe Rd., St. Louis
Substance Use Disorders and
 our Community
Submitted by: Emily Whipple
GCSAC Coordinator

On September 17th, at 7:30 P.M. in the Art Smith Arena on Alma College's campus, we welcome WAI-IAM Inc. and their presentation Straight Talk. President and Co-Founder, Corey, is a recovering alcoholic and heroin addict. He will provide insight into his struggles while addicted to heroin and alcohol. His mother and Executive Director/Co-Founder, Jacque, will provide the perspective of a co-dependent mother and the agony the family went through during this time. They will also speak about the tools they used to find health and peace.

In 2016 the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimated that over 20 million adults suffered from an alcohol or substance use disorder. Substance use disorders occur when there is a continuing use of alcohol and/or drugs that in turn causes clinically and functionally significant impairment. Significant impairment can range from health problems, disability, and failure to meet responsibilities at work, school, or home. This event will be focused on existing options for accessing substance use disorder treatment and to identify areas for improvement in our community. This event is for those who are seeking recovery, those who know someone who is in recovery or wishing to be in recovery, and those who treat substance use disorders.

The presentation will be followed by a panel of professionals from our community who will provide information regarding services available as well as welcoming ideas towards bettering our community.

This event is sponsored by Alma College, Mid-State Health Network, Gratiot Integrated Health Network and The Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition. 

For more information, please feel free to contact me at emily@linkforfamilies.org or (989) 463-1422. We hope to see you there!
Scheduled Classes
 

Foster/Adoptive/Relative Care Support Group
Tuesday, August 14
See details below.

Please call our office t o RS VP at (989)4 63-1422 or email m organ@linkforfamilies.org.
 
Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition Meeting
Monday, August 13
1:00 p.m.
RESD - Ithaca

Please call Emily at 989-463-1422 with any questions
 
 
The Baby Pantry
Every Wednesday
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Wilcox Non-Profit Building - Alma

For more information about the Baby Pantry please contact Morgan Rooy at (989)463-1422.
It's hard to believe it's already August!  I'll never understand why the summer months move so much faster than the winter months year after year.  If you are anything like me you have tried to pack in as many fun activities as possible in the past 2 months.  I have to say it's a bit exhausting.  :)

As we are winding down and gearing up for the Fall we have volunteer and donation opportunities coming up.  We are looking for volunteers to assist with our Caregiver Appreciation Picnic (see details above).  Volunteers would assist with food service, children's games, crafts, set-up, and tear down.  It's also time for us to start collecting donations for our Annual Trivia Night Silent Auction.  If you have something you would like to donate to our auction please let us know.  We appreciate any and all help we can get from the community. 

Thank you for reading our newsletter and enjoy the rest of your summer.

Sincerely,
Audra Stahl
President & CEO