Greetings!
As we move into the last month of the year we are hopeful at Child Advocacy that we will again be able to host our events and fundraisers in 2021 in a way that keeps everyone safe and healthy. We look forward to all of the possibilities another year has in store for us.
Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter,
Staci Bigelow
Volunteer/Event Coordinator
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Child Advocacy Virtual December
Lunch & Learn
Thursday, December 3, 2020
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Please email Staci at staci@childadvocacy.net or call (989)463-1422 to RSVP for the event. The event link will be emailed to those who RSVP closer to the event date.
Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition Virtual Meeting
Monday, December 14, 2020
1:00 p.m.
Please email Emily at
Caregiver Support Group Virtual Meeting
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
6:00 p.m.
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DARKNESS TO LIGHT'S Steward of
Children Virtual Training
Thursday, December 15, 2020
11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Registration required and limited to 15 participants. Contact Morgan Rooy at 989-463-1422 or morgan@childadvocacy.net by 12/10/2020 to reserve your space.
CASA Info Session
December 15, 2020
5: 30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
If you would like to learn more about this program or attend our next CASA Volunteer Training, please attend our next Information Session!
Register in advance for this meeting:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
For more information on upcoming events and trainings please see detailed flyers below or visit our website at ChildAdvocacy.net
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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
audra@childadvocacy.net
Pam Mahin
Office Manager
pam@childadvocacy.net
Staci Bigelow
Event/Volunteer Coordinator
staci@childadvocacy.net
Ty Warczinsky
GCSAC Program Director
ty@childadvocacy.net
Emily Rayburn
GCSAC Coordinator
emily@childadvocacy.net
Sara Krebs
GCSAC Prevention
Coordinator
sara@childadvocacy.net
Lexi Morton
GCSAC Prevention Educator
lexi@childadvocacy.net
Morgan Rooy
CAN Program Director
morgan@childadvocacy.net
Richelle Davis
CAN Prevention Educator
richelle@childadvocacy.net
Michelle Zombeck
CASA Program Director
michelle@childadvocacy.net
Rachel Molands
CASA Recruitment Coordinator
rachel@childadvocacy.net
Heather Therrien
CAC Program Director
heather@childadvocacy.net
Jennifer Stambaugh
CAC Victim Advocate
jennifer@childadvocacy.net
Nicole Showers
CAC Case Manager
nicole@childadvocacy.net
Nikky Holton
CAC Intake Coordinator
nikky@childadvocacy.net
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
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Multidisciplinary Team Training Series
The Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) was awarded a grant in November 2019 from the National Children’s Alliance to coordinate trainings focused on technology facilitated child sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and child pornography for our multidisciplinary team (MDT) and teams around central Michigan. A major component to the success of any CAC is their collaboration with MDT members on cases involving children who are the alleged victims of abuse, neglect, and/or drug endangerment. These teams are made up of representatives from disciplines including law enforcement, child protective services, mental health services, health care, and prosecution. As technology continues to advance and impact our lives in positive ways, it also increases the risk for criminal activity perpetrated on vulnerable populations. The ultimate goal behind these trainings was to enhance awareness and investigative strategies in cases involving children who are alleged victims of crime related to technology facilitated child sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and child pornography.
Initially, the series of trainings were set to kick off in March 2020. However, with the emergence of COVID-19 the CAC (and much of the world) faced the unique opportunity of navigating how to transition all trainings to a virtual platform. Members of the CAC team worked closely with training facilitators who graciously modified in-person trainings into virtual Zoom presentations. Despite the challenges, expert facilitators successfully led four trainings throughout the months of September and October focusing on recognizing the challenges within these dynamic cases, the importance of medical examinations and evidence, investigative strategies, and how to guide traumatized victims through a testimony. Ultimately, this series reached thirty-six MDT members spanning five counties!
Despite the challenges COVID-19 has brought, we are proud to be a part of an evolving and growing community of people committed to their professional growth so we may all provide the best services to children and families who walk through the CAC.
Nikky Holton
Children's Advocacy Center Intake Coordinator
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Above the Influence
Above the influence is in full swing-all we are missing is YOU! Our Above the Influence programs have been up and running via ZOOM at our Gratiot County High Schools. Our students are working to raise awareness on different topics that affect the youth in our community.
Above the Influence gives students tools, as well as an outlet to shed light on topics that are concerning to our youth. Gratiot County students are busy finding ways to adapt to the world around us, and using their voice to raise awareness through virtual platforms during this time. Follow our Above the Influence page on Facebook at Above the Influence: Gratiot County, to see the amazing work local high school students are doing! ATI students are coming up with media campaigns, working on grants to better school environments, ways to enhance the safety of the students, making presentations for our state and local representatives, and attending leadership and youth webinars.
If you are a Gratiot County youth and looking to make change in our community, please email Lexi at Lexi@childadvocacy.net for more information about how you can get involved with Above the Influence.
Lexi Morton
Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition Prevention Educator
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Happy Holidays,
We are all moved into our new building and couldn't be more excited! Our only wish would be to share it with all of you, and COVID is making that very difficult. Right now we are hopeful that we will be able to have an open house in early 2021. Stay tuned for more information on an open house and tours of the building.
As 2020 comes to a close I have been reflecting on the year. 2020 has taught me how fragile we can be, but also how resilient we are. Our staff has done an excellent job of serving clients in these uncertain times in creative and innovative ways. I always knew that the staff at Child Advocacy was the best of the best, but 2020 has given me proof of this without a doubt. We look forward to serving even more children and their families in 2021 from our new space. With that being said, we owe you the community a heartfelt "thank you" for your continued support and outpouring of love. We really could not do anything without the collaborations and support of all of you. Thank you!
Have a safe and healthy holiday season!
Sincerely,
Audra Stahl
President & CEO
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