CA with tag line 

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



"Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity." 

-Kay Redfield Jamison
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 Whipple
GCSAC Coordinator

Sara Krebs 
GCSAC Prevention
 Coordinator
 
 
Kelsey Wooten
 GCSAC Prevention Educator
 
Morgan Rooy
CAN Program Director
 
 Richelle Davis 
CAN Prevention Educator
 
Michelle Zombeck 
 CASA Program Director    
 
Danielle Schmidtman
CASA Recruitment Coordinator
 
Heather Therrien  
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
Tri Lakes Petroleum
  
Steve Vernon
 Gratiot Integrated Health Network
 
Mark Williams
Alma Public Safety Administrator 

Joe Yourchock
Community Representative


Car

Seat Safety

 

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
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.
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
Diapers: size 5 & 6
Baby Bottles
Baby Spoons
Boys Clothing:
Sizes: 5 & 6
Training pants - all sizes
Purple Can Gentle Formula

 

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

Your Feedback!

Thank the good LORD for you and the other ladies who work with you...you made it comfortable.

Children's Advocacy Center Guest

Quick Links

 
Join Our Mailing List

The long-awaited summer has arrived!

This month we share the Child Advocacy award recipients and staff program articles. We also have summer hours listed below for your convenience

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


Positive Influencer  Award
Submitted by: Kelsey Wooten
GCSAC Prevention Educator
 
New to Child Advocacy this year is the Above the Influence - Positive Influencer Award. Above the Influence is a high school program run under the Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition. This award was created to honor those students who do an excellent job of demonstrating dignity, and life above the influence inside and outside of school. 

Rising above negative influences that we encounter in life is not always easy -- it takes leadership, strength, will-power, and perseverance. Ithaca High School Above the Influence participants nominated two of their peers to receive the award this year: Lyndie Litwiller, 11th grade and Alex VanDeWegh, 11th grade.

Along with being a leader among peers, Lyndie participates in volleyball, basketball, soccer, cheer, Student Council, Future Farmers of America, and National Honors Society. Alex is involved in Track, Model UN, Quiz Bowl, Student Council and National Honors Society.

The awards were presented to the students at our annual Child Advocacy banquet on May 23. Lyndie was present to receive her award, and although Alex could not be there, the community honored both of them both with applause.

In the future, we hope to expand this award to other schools in Gratiot County, as well, so that we can continue to recognize the teen Positive Influencers in our community.
Congratulations Lyndie Litwiller and Alex VanDeWegh!
2018 Child Advocacy Banquet
Congratulations to Sheila Barnaby -  
2018 Child Advocate of the Year!

Congratulations to United Way of Gratiot & Isabella Counties - 2018 Child Advocate Organization of the Year!

Congratulations to 7-11 - 2018 Substance Abuse Prevention Compliance Award!
Congratulations to Lyndie Litwiller and Alex VanDeWegh(not pictured) - 2018 Above the Influence Positive Influencer Award.
CASA volunteers with many years of combined service.
2018 Outgoing Board Members - Jennifer Stambaugh, Wes Wickes, and Steve Benn(not pictured).

Putting the Pieces Together
Submitted by: Mallory Harrier
CAC Intake Coordinator

Building on the success of victim support programs last summer, the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) launched a new workshop series this month. The first session was aimed at teen girls who have received services through the CAC. Putting the Pieces Together was a one-night experience designed to reconnect, promote and strengthen relationships between a parent or caregiver and their child.

The fun filled evening consisted of participants working on different activities together - both competitive and team oriented. There were a lot of laughs and good memories shared resulting in a substantive bonding experience for those involved.  

By offering this program, CAC staff also gained insight as to what types of support and activity group participants would be interested in for future sessions this summer. Staff look forward to continuing these workshops on a monthly basis, focusing on a different topic and age group each time as part of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to providing support for child abuse victims and their families.
Congratulations to our Raffle Winners!

Police Car - Alyssa Shankel
$100 Meijer Card - Paul Erskine
Cooler Set - Rich Ramereiz
Scheduled Classes
 

Foster/Adoptive/Relative Care Support Group
Tuesday, June 12
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
East Superior Christian Church - Alma

A special guest, Dr. Candy McCorkle, will be joining us from Alma College. Dr. McCorkle is the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and the Director of Diversity and Inclusion. She will provide an educational presentation on LGTBQ+ issues, and share with us strategies to better work with and serve those who identify as LGTBQ+.

Please call our office to RSVP at (989)463-1422 or email morgan@linkforfamilies.org.

 
Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition Meeting
Monday, June 11
1:00 p.m.
RESD - Ithaca
Please call Sara 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.
Happy Summer! 
Thank you to everyone who took the time to attend our annual awards banquet, and congratulations to all of our award winners. 

This month we welcome Emily Whipple to the team as the Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition Coordinator. We are also hiring a Substance Abuse Prevention Educator to replace Kelsey.  Kelsey will be leaving us at the end of the month to move to Florida.  We wish Kelsey all the best, we know she has a big bright future in front of her, and we will miss her. 

Thank you for reading our newsletter!

Sincerely,
Audra Stahl
President & CEO