National Foster Care Month

In observance of #NationalFosterCare Month, Child Advocacy celebrates CASA volunteers who advocate for the needs of children and youth in foster care, and provide a consistent advocate and reliable resource during times of great uncertainty and transition.



Nationwide, there are more than 390,000 children and youth in foster care and up to 80 percent of them need significant mental health supports.

As a consistent, caring adult in a child’s life, CASA of Gratiot County volunteers help our local judge make the most informed decisions for the well-being of the child. These volunteers also aid in identify resources for the child and their families to help strengthen and prevent crises before they occur.

CASA of Gratiot County provides highly trained volunteers to advocate on behalf of children and youth in the courtroom. To learn how you can get involved contact -

Michelle Zombeck at michelle@childadvocacy.net or click CASA. 

Michelle Zombeck

CASA Program Director

Pantry Program Welcomes Ashley Tupper!

Our Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) Prevention Program is growing! Seeing the need from our community continue to grow, we are excited to bring on additional staff to help bring the “Pantry Program” to new heights! This will include the Baby Pantry, Foster Closet, Supply the Cycle, and a Food Bag Program. Here is more about what those are:

• The Baby Pantry serves families who care for children aged 0-5 (including expectant parents).

• The Foster Closet provides clothing, hygiene, and necessities for children that are involved in child welfare proceedings in Gratiot County.

•  Supply the Cycle provides menstruating products to Gratiot County youth. This includes pads, tampons, and menstrual cups.

• The Food Bag program is a partnership with the Greater Lansing Food Bank to be a distribution sight for bags of nonperishable items for anyone in the community that needs food.

All of these programs are FREE to the community!

Ashley Tupper’s role will be responsible for oversight and development of the Pantry Program. Ashley Tupper grew up in Ionia, Michigan, but started calling Alma home while she attended Central Michigan University. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Leadership both from Central Michigan University. She is a co-chair for Gratiot Young Professionals Network and a member of Alma Elementary PTO. Ashley has a passion for bettering the lives of children, families, and her community. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, reading, and traveling!

Check out our website’s wish lists for ways to donate or contact us today to learn about how to host a donation drive at your business! We are also in need of volunteers in this program! Contact Ashley Tupper, Pantry Coordinator, at 989-463-1422 or ashley@childadvocacy.net to learn about how to get involved.