CA with tag line 

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

"Challenging behavior occurs when the demands and expectations being placed upon a child outstrip the skills they have to respond."

- Ross Greene
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
Garth Anderson
Commercial Bank
  
Treasurer
Sara Bonacci
Community 
Representative

Colleen Davis
Prosecuting Attorney's Office 
   
Jim Dubey
Garr Tool 

Rob DuHadway
DuHadway Dance Dimensions

Andrew Fias
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 
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.

Quick Links

 
Join Our Mailing List

September is Infant Safe Sleep Month and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. We encourage you to read our program articles on these important topics.

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

Virtual Suicide Prevention Training
Question.Persuade.Refer
QPR: 3 Simple Questions Anyone Can Learn To Help Save A Life
Thursday, September 3, 2020
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.


MEETING ID: 852 2064 5872 
PASSCODE: 624628

Caregiver Support Group Virtual Meeting
Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Please email Morgan at morgan@linkforfamilies.org for more information or for the presentation link.

Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition Virtual Meeting
Monday, September 14, 2020
1:00 p.m.

Please email Sara at sara@linkforfamilies.org for the presentation link.

Virtual Suicide Prevention Training
Question.Persuade.Refer
QPR: 3 Simple Questions Anyone Can Learn To Help Save A Life
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
6 p.m. - 7 p.m.

JOIN ZOOM VIRTUAL MEETING:

MEETING ID: 870 0561 7713 
PASSCODE: 902315
September Suicide Prevention 
Awareness Month
Submitted by: Ty Warczinsky
GCSAC Program Director

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. These are incredibly difficult times as so much unknown lay ahead. People are suffering loss in a way not likely endured in their lifetimes: loss of income, loss of sports, loss of the rhythm of school (as we know it)....For some, fear has crept in: fear of the unknown, which can seem insurmountable. Life as we have known it is changing at a rapid pace, and there does not seem to be an end in sight. With the dark cloud that hovers overhead, it is imperative that we are even more astute to suicide
prevention awareness; we have to work diligently to recognize and come alongside those who are in danger of being swallowed up by the darkness.

The Gratiot County Substance Abuse and Suicide Coalition has a number of great activities planned for the month of September: 

9/3/2020 12-1 pm FREE Online QPR Suicide Prevention Training. This is an online ZOOM training; for meeting invite, please visit  
www.gratiotdrugfree.org

9/10/2020 World Suicide Prevention Day: Wear yellow and send pictures to Child Advocacy to post to share on our Facebook page

9/14/2020 1pm-2:30pm Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition Meeting. Guest Speaker Shandy Longcore: Attempted Suicide Survivor. This is an online ZOOM meeting; for meeting ID/Password, please visit www.gratiotdrugfree.org

9/22/2020 6-7 pm FREE Online QPR Suicide Prevention Training. This is an online ZOOM training; for meeting invite, please visit www.gratiotdrugfree.org

9/29/2020 Walk a Mile in Their Shoes - Walk a Mile and share a photo on Facebook of yourself walking to help raise awareness of the importance of Mental Health Care in Michigan.
#gratiotcountysuicideprevention

SUICIDE AWARENESS T-SHIRTS To get a t-shirt that helps raise awareness for suicide prevention and promotes Prescription Drug Disposal Pouches, please drive through Ithaca's, St. Louis's or Alma's Farmers Markets.

Check out Child Advocacy's Facebook page throughout the month of September for a Suicide Awareness Prevention Social Media Campaign.

Throughout Gratiot County, you will see Fields of Yellow Flags in the month of September. These fields are to commemorate those who have died by suicide and help raise awareness for suicide prevention.

There will also be billboards around Gratiot County on Suicide Awareness.
September is Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month
Submitted by: Morgan Rooy
CAN Program Director

Every THREE days a Michigan baby dies when sleeping in an unsafe place. By implementing infant safe sleep practices, these deaths are preventable.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services advises following these tips for safe sleep during every nap and night-time routine:
  • Place your baby on their back, in a crib, bassinet or pack-n-play for every sleep time.
  • Use a firm mattress with a tightly fitted sheet.
  • Keep baby's sleep space clutter free- no pillows, blankets, or toys.
  • Avoid covering baby's head or overheating. Instead of a blanket, consider using a sleep sack, wearable blanket, or footed sleeper to keep baby warm.
  • Remind everyone who cares for your baby, including babysitters and family members, how to keep baby safe while sleeping.
A great resource for inquiring about safe sleep practices in childcare settings can be found here. This website features a checklist of things to ask and things to look for when choosing a childcare provider.

To watch videos of placing infants to sleep safety, we recommend
We are determined to inform parents, grandparents, and other caregivers of infants on safe sleep environments, and debunk the common myths or misunderstandings. We know that the recommendations have changed over the years and understand that it can be confusing. If you are interested in learning more about Child Advocacy's safe sleep initiatives, or would like safe sleep materials for yourself, or family members please let us know. We are here to help, and we can be reached at (989) 463-1422.

To order FREE Safe Sleep materials for your agency or business visit: http://www.healthymichigan.com/
Greetings,
We hope you all had a wonderful summer and have stayed healthy and safe.  These are trying times for our community, our state, and our nation, and we know and understand that sometimes it is hard to stay mentally healthy with all that is going on around you.  We would love to have you join us in one of our many virtual options for suicide prevention this month. Suicide effects everyone, and we find that the more you know the more confident you will feel when asking the tough questions. 

Our new building project is underway and moving along rather quickly.  We are looking at a move in date around the first of November.  We are beyond excited for this new adventure.  Along with our big move and address change we will be changing our email addresses and website, so stay tuned for updates on those changes.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Audra Stahl
President & CEO