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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
Ty Warczinsky
GCSAC Program Director
Sara Krebs
Coalition Coordinator
Richelle Davis
Prevention Educator
Michelle Zombeck
CASA Program Director
CAC Program Director
Nicole Showers
CAC Case Manager
Mallory Harrier
CAC Intake Coordinator
Staci Bigelow
Event/Volunteer Coordinator
Morgan Rooy
Board of Directors
President
Carolyn Studley
Community Represenative
Vice President
Matt Schooley
City of Alma Transportation
Secretary
Jennifer Stambaugh
DeafBlind Central
Treasurer
Sara Bonacci
Sara Bonacci Photography
Steve Benn
Detective/Sgt.
MI State Police
Wendy Currie
Mid MI District Health Dept
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
Wes Wickes
Central MI Youth for Christ
Mark Williams
Detective/Sgt.
Alma Police Depart.
Joe Yourchock
Community Representative
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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 Box's
Bottled Water
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!
My students love the Lending Library! While they enjoy reading the stories, all of the fun activities that go along with each book helps them to think even deeper into the stories and use their recall skills as well.
Thank you so much for the opportunities the Lending Library gives my class!
Ms. Chris
Morey GSRP Preschool Teacher
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Happy Mothers Day!
This month we host our biggest fundraiser - the Superhero 5K, we will host our agency's annual banquet, and
CASA and GCSAC will be hosting "T
elling Their Stories" art show. Details of these events are below.
Come out and show your support by attending any or all of these awesome events!
Child Advocacy Staff
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Upcoming Events
Telling Their Stories
Please join us opening night May 2, 2017 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. to celebrate and support children from Gratiot County schools & the CASA program who are Telling Their Stories through artwork.
May 2-23, 2017
Monday - Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Alma College Flora Kirsch Gallery
Light refreshments will be served opening night. For more information, please contact Child Advocacy at
(989)463-1422.
Child Advocacy Superhero 5K
Please join us for our annual 5K race!
Saturday, May 13 at 9:00 a.m.
Alma Armory, 710 S. State St.
Child Advocacy Banquet
Join us as we celebrate those who advocate and care for children and for those who strive to improve the welfare of children and their families!
Wednesday, May 24
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Central Michigan Youth for Christ - Alma
Please call the Child Advocacy office at (989) 463-1422 to purchase tickets in advance.
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Child Advocacy's Lending Library
is a FREE educational resource! It is designed for parents and caregivers with children birth to 5 years to encourage and enhance the learning experience at home, school, or child care.
Items include:
NEW: Four themed sensory bags for children ages birth - 2 years.
Theme Totes: Rubbermaid containers containing books, puzzles, hands on activities, and toys.
Story Stretchers: Totes include a book, along with a toy(s) and/or CD to enhance the learning of the storybook.
Items are available to be checked out for a 2 week period FREE of charge.
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Making a Difference One Child at a Time
Written by: Michelle Zombeck
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Gratiot County is delighted to introduce a new member to our volunteer team. Marsha Turner was sworn in on March 4, 2017 and she is eager to embark on a journey that will be life changing.
Marsha has spent the last three plus decades in the medical field working with a variety of personalities. She has dealt with tough topics and supported those in need while maintaining professionalism. Marsha has also been a part of the celebration and victories that occur in the medical field. She recently retired and has been spending time assisting in the care of her grandchildren. Marsha also volunteers her time at the First Presbyterian Church Food Pantry in Gratiot County. She is a proud and dedicated parent of 3 children and a grandparent of 6. Marsha is an animal lover and she enjoys the arts, cooking, reading, math and science. Marsha has a passion for children and she feels strongly about their rights. When asked why she wanted to be a CASA volunteer she shared that "I want to make a difference in some small way and I feel that children are worth the time and effort." When talking to people who know Marsha words like caring, compassionate, determined and educated came up time and time again.
We are so happy to have Marsha as a part of our team and we thank her for her commitment to the children involved in abuse and neglect in this community. Unfortunately, even though we have added a new volunteer to our team we still have more voices that need to be heard. Help us reach the goal of having a volunteer for every child in need.
CASA of Gratiot County is currently accepting applications for our next volunteer training.
Please contact Michelle Zombeck for more information at
[email protected] or 989-463-1422.
(Marsha Turner, Judge Kristin Bakker, Michelle Zombeck)
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2017 Alumni Basketball Game
Thank you everyone for an incredible night! We raised $3,100 from the game for Child Abuse Prevention and another $1,346 from the raffle!! These funds help us continue our
work to improve the welfare of children and their families!
Thank you to our Sponsors, the Players, Pom Squad (big and small), DuHadway Dance Dimensions, Cindy Hicks and the Middle School Volunteers, Alma High School for allowing us to use the gym, Alma Sports Boosters, Eric Huff, Paige Butcher, Garth Anderson, Doug Yarnell, Kiley Kochensparger, Brandi Zoss, the staff at Child Advocacy, and everyone who came out to support us!!! Thank you!!!!
Raffle Winners
American Girl Doll - Andrea Tabor
Endurance Fitness Membership - Scott Scherzer
$50.00 Meijer Gift Card - Danielle Wernick
Congratulations to all the Winners!!!
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What's a Child Passenger Safety Technician?
By: Morgan Rooy, CAN Program Director, CPST
Each May, the National Child Passenger Safety Board celebrates Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) Month by setting a goal of training at least 100 new Child Passenger Safety Technicians. Here at Child Advocacy, we're lucky to have two CPST's on staff.
A CPST is someone who is trained and certified to install car seats. Yes, this really is a thing! I became a CPST in May 2016. I signed up for the training because I never felt confident with the way I installed car seats and knew the information would be beneficial for all of the children in my life. The training lasted for four days, and at the beginning I thought there was no way that car seats could be that complicated. However, once the training ended, I realized that it's no wonder 98% of car seats are installed incorrectly.
Not only is each car seat different, but each vehicle, seat-belt system, and child are too! I have learned that car seats are incredibly complex and are always changing, which is why CPST's are required to continuously take courses and stay up-to-date with the latest technologies, products, and recalls.
If you're a parent, caregiver, babysitter, sibling, or anyone who transports children, I encourage you to have your car seats checked by a CPST.
Appointments can be made by calling our office at 989-463-1422. Not sure what to expect during an appointment, contact us over the phone or check out this link.
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2017 Dance Experience
On April 22nd we held our annual Dance Experience Event. Dancers from the DuHadway Dance Dimensions Elite Team wrote a YAC grant, and were awarded the funds for this event.
DuHadway Dance partnered with Child Advocacy for the 4th year to offer a morning of dance to over 70 Gratiot County youth. Participants learned ballet, hip hop, and jazz. They also enjoyed performances by the Elite Team Dancers, made their own tu-tu or cape, enjoyed a snack, and received a t-shirt and certificate of participation.
Thank you to the Gratiot County Community Foundation, Screen and Stitch, and DuHadway Dance Dimensions for sponsoring this wonderful event!
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Scheduled Classes
Foster/Adoptive/Relative Care Support Group
Tuesday, May 9
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
East Superior Christian Church - Alma
Please call our office at (989) 463-1422 to register for the class.
Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition Meeting
Monday, May 8
1:00 p.m.
Youth For Christ - Alma
, MI
Please call Sara at 989-463-1422 with any questions.
Nurturing Parenting Program
For Parents of Teenagers
Mondays & Wednesdays
May 31, June 5, 7, 12, 14, & 19
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Child Advocacy
525 N. State St. - Alma
Please contact Morgan Rooy to register at (989)463-1422.
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Greetings,
I will keep this short and sweet! We invite you to join us for our annual celebration banquet as we honor an Advocate of the Year and an Organization of the Year. The banquet will be a celebration of those who better the lives of children and their families. For more information on the banquet please feel free to call us. 989-463-1422
Have a wonderful month!
Sincerely,
Audra Stahl
President & CEO
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