About Us
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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
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
Steve Vernon
Gratiot Integrated Health Network
Mark Williams
Alma Public Safety Administrator
Joe Yourchock
Community Representative
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Car Seat Safety |
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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 [email protected] or (989) 463-1422. We hope to see you there!
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Scheduled Classes
Foster/Adoptive/Relative Care Support Group
Tuesday, August 14
See details below.
Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition Meeting
Monday, August 13
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.
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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
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