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Director's message
Dear Friends:

If you read my notes here and other letters I’ve written you in the past, you know I’m a huge fan of CFS’ employees and volunteers. So I’m delighted that one of the ways we are celebrating CFS’ 85th year is to regularly spotlight these wonderful, big-hearted souls. Many of them are “boomerangs,” like Jenn, who left CFS but came back because of the camaraderie and the feeling of contributing to a greater good with people who have your back. Many have spent a long career at CFS, like Paula. And in Jenn’s case, she and her family truly “walked the talk” when they fell in love with, and then adopted, a child in our care. Amy has been a volunteer with CFS for many years, following in the footsteps of her late husband Todd, whom we still miss every day. We’re so pleased Amy has joined our Board. Mike is brand-new to CFS—
at the start of what we hope will be a long and satisfying partnership!
The kindness and commitment of our people, despite the challenges of their work and those of the people they walk beside, are so inspiring to me. I love their stories! I hope you’ll enjoy them, too, here and in the months to come.

Wishing you the hope and rebirth that the Spring season brings, even in the face of war in Europe and the anxieties and challenges we all face. As the Irish proverb says, “It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.”

Warmly,
Gina Aranki, Executive Director
CFS: 85 Years of Helping Children and Families
WHERE ARE THEY NOW STORIES:
The Thomas Family, by our own Jenn Thomas
When I was young, I never wanted children. Now I have 5! And I'm a grandparent to 6! 

I met Grace when I worked at CFS. From 2012-2014, I worked at the front desk, and she would come in for counseling. I always tried to make a connection with the teens when they would come in. At the time my oldest children were coming out of their teens, so I felt compelled to be kind to teens. I knew that most people misunderstand teens, and especially those with trauma history. I wanted to be the one person that showed kindness to them, knowing they may be in a place in life that was not great for them. 

My husband, Shawn, has always had a heart for lost children. He has a heartfelt desire to take care of the widows and orphans. He went on several trips to Mexico with our church and in 2014 he asked me along. We both fell in LOVE with a girl there and wanted so badly to bring her home, but we could not. I feel like that is when the seed was planted in my heart to consider fostering/adoption. 

I left CFS and worked elsewhere
for a year. I returned in 2015 and reconnected. At that time Grace was involved with PEACE Ranch and CFS was invited to walk along with them in the Cherry Festival parade. Grace was invited, too. This is when my husband and my youngest daughter met Grace for the first time. Instantly, my husband Shawn felt a connection to Grace. He kept asking me questions about her. Of course, with confidentiality rules, I could not say anything about her circumstances or her life. My husband is persistent… he continued to ask, I continued to say not a word. 

By the end of the parade, he was so adamant about talking about her that I said he should pray about it on his way home, and I would do the same. Meaning we should pray about whether we wanted to pursue asking more questions and possibly inviting Grace to come into our family. We both prayed, and both felt led to pursue this possibility.

We both “heard” that she was the Grace we had waited for. (Our only biological daughter was going to be named Grace until a family member had a daughter just before our daughter was born, and they used that name!) 

So we started the adoption process. Grace’s adoption case had to be moved to another agency because it was a conflict of interest, since I worked at CFS. We had to get special permission from the Director of CFS to even start the process, but at that point, Grace was on her way to being a child who would either age out of foster care or end up in a detention center, so we were given permission.
Continued next column...
We started slowly, with visits first, then day trip outings, including to the NW Michigan Fair. Then we started having overnights. She was allowed to go with us on a trip for her birthday when she turned 14. Shortly after that, she moved in. 

Things were tough at first, adjusting to another person living at the house and a teen at that. But we were not giving up. I think Grace tried very hard to see if we were “it,” her forever family. She would say, “Why do you keep me?” I would say, “You don’t just give up on your child.” She is ours, and though she was not born from me, she is fully ours, and we could not imagine a life without her in it. 

One day, long after she had been at the house and adopted, she said, “Mom, come here!” She was a little teary and said, “Look!,” so I looked. I asked, “What am I looking at?” She said, “It is an empty bag.” She said that at every other home she was in she never fully unpacked, so that she could leave quickly when it was time to go. She was finally able to unpack her last bag, so she knew she was home!
Staff Highlight: Paula Smith
In celebration of our 85th year, we are highlighting a few of our "veteran helpers.” Many of these staff members have dedicated their careers to helping others in times of crisis, challenge, and life transition.
Paula Smith is one who is not only a great listener, but also a problem-solver! She has a wealth of experience and knowledge in behavioral health and is well-connected to community resources. Her passion is helping others and she’s most satisfied when she sees people grow and change. Many of the programs that she oversees help clients solve their problems by working together with CFS staff. She’s always looking to improve outcomes, and even through the pandemic was able to shift programs to virtual at first, and now a hybrid of virtual and face-to-face, to continue to reach those in rural areas.

Paula loves to coordinate big-thinking ideas together with staff and others in the community. She launched our Safe Haven program, which is the only program in northern Michigan that supervises visits and child exchanges between parents involved in high conflict. She also helped Northern Lakes Community Mental Health get a grant for the FAST program in our region (see more info on FAST below). “Sparking the idea and developing it into fruition!” is what makes Paula’s face light up. She’s always thinking outside the box in order to help others!

When asked about her biggest concerns and frustrations, Paula said that we, as a state and a community, must begin to prioritize mental health and wellness. We are spending more and more dollars to handle crises. We need a stronger continuum of care to prevent these crises from occurring.

Paula is concerned that those in the helping professions are asked for more and more accountability. She says that we are fine with being accountable, but, for example, how many audits are really needed? “Why can’t one audit work for multiple parties (state and federal governments)?” (An audit is very time-consuming and diverts workers’ time away from serving clients.) Paula is also concerned about the State’s cuts to residential treatment centers. “The length of stay allowed in the hospitals and treatment centers has been reduced, which produces the cycle of them [patients] returning.”
Fortunately, more people are paying attention and realizing the significance of the ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experience) study and the costs to society. Costs go up if we don’t treat mental health issues early on. She is hopeful that more people, including leaders, are listening and learning how to solve this problem. Paula is, of course, involved with many collaborative efforts! We are so happy that she is part of the CFS team!
FAST (Family Assessment & Safety Team) is mobile mental health crisis response for children and families
The FAST team is available to support you and your child (ages 0-20) through a mental health crisis while working to stabilize your situation. The team can be deployed to a home or school setting, and is available all hours Monday through Friday, evenings and weekends.

Follow-up care can last up to 90 days or until services are in place.

Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority and community partners Munson Medical Center, Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan, local Departments of Health and Human Services, and local law enforcement all work together to provide a team of care providers and resources for children and families to help them get back to their regular level of functioning.

To access, call 1-833-295-0616 and ask for FAST.
Always A Parent Class
CFS Board Update: Welcome Amy and Mike!
Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan is excited to welcome our newest board members, Amy Endresen and Mike Lahti. We look forward to working with you both, along with the entire CFS board and staff to make a positive impact in the lives of children and families in northwestern Michigan.
Amy Endresen
As a longtime supporter of and volunteer for Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan, Amy is excited to step into a new role as a member of the board. She brings with her an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and a graduate degree from Western Michigan University. Amy is a retired Traverse City Area Public Schools teacher. Over the years she has volunteered in various capacities with a wide variety of nonprofits in the community including, FIRST Lego League, Traverse City Film Festival, National Cherry Festival, Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan. Amy is the mother of two adult children, who, she says, bring great joy to her world.
Mike Lahti
Mike Lahti is the Chief Executive Officer for Tamarack Holdings, an umbrella organization formed in 2015, providing shared services and management oversight for their collection of niche food businesses and real estate holdings based in Traverse City, MI. The Tamarack Holdings portfolio consists of Cherry Capital Foods; Earthy Delights; Food For Thought; and Michigan Farm to Freezer. Mike is a respected and trusted leader in the Grand Traverse region, having spent seven years as the GM/Director of Operations with Black Star Farms, and as GM with Old Mission Windows. Mike is deeply committed to the Traverse area community and has served as a board member for multiple organizations in addition to substantial philanthropic and volunteer work. He is passionate about health and fitness, keeping a disciplined training schedule, competing in the M22 Challenge, and playing league hockey at Centre Ice. Mike graduated from Grand Valley State University with a B.B.A. in Business Finance, Minor in Psychology, and resides in Traverse City with his wife and their 3 daughters. Little known fact about Mike: He creates custom birthday cakes for his daughters in ANY shape/theme they want – Cake Boss has nothin’
on him!
Upcoming Events!
Intro to Fostering
Learn more about Foster and Adoptive Parenting from our licensing staff. They will review the process and answer any questions. These virtual orientations are held through Zoom. Click here to learn more and register.
Suicide Awareness & Prevention Workshop
Question. Persuade. Refer. (QPR) are three steps anyone can learn to help prevent suicide. The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. Click here to learn more and register.

Free Legal Aid Clinic
Receive private, free, & confidential legal advice every Tuesday by volunteer attorneys from the Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association. Click here for more information.
CFS has achieved a 2021 Platinum Seal of Transparency with Guidestar, showing our commitment to integrity and accountability. By providing information about our goals, strategies, capabilities, and vision, we are highlighting the difference we help to make in the world.
Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan
3785 Veterans Drive, Traverse City | (231) 946-8975
3434 M-119, Ste F, Harbor Springs | (231) 347-4463
Third Level/Pete's Place | (231) 922-4800