Greetings!
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month!
We have valuable trainings and resources offered this month for EVERYONE! If you have questions or would like more details on our prevention efforts please contact us!
Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter,
Staci Bigelow
Volunteer/Event Coordinator
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Child Advocacy Lunch & Learn
Thursday, April 7, 2022
11:30 am - 1:00 p.m.
Please see the detailed flyer below for event information and registration details.
Caregiver Support Group Virtual Meeting
Tuesday, April 12, 2022
6:00 p.m.
Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition Meeting
Monday, April 11, 2022
1:00 p.m.
The monthly coalition meeting will be a different format this month, if interested in attending or for more information please email Emily at
Trauma-Informed Care as Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
12:00 - 1:00 pm
Please see the detailed flyer below for event information and registration details.
Suicide Prevention Training
QPR - Question, Persuade, Refer
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Please see the detailed flyer below for event information and registration details.
The Power of One
Saturday, April 23, 2022
10:00 a.m.
Please see the detailed flyer below for event information and registration details.
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Darkness to Light's Stewards of Children Training
Thursday, April 28, 2022
9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Registration is required and limited to 15 participants. Contact Morgan Rooy at 989-463-1422 or morgan@childadvocacy.net to reserve your space.
Child Advocacy Raffle
Friday, May 6, 2022
Drawing will be held at 9:45 directly following the Designer Purse Bingo event. Need not be present to win.
On Sale Now! please call (989)463-1422 or visit Child Advocacy to purchase.
Designer Purse Bingo
Friday, May 6, 2022
Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
Please the details flyer below, contact Staci at staci@childadvocacy.net if you have questions regarding the event and/or registration.
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For more information on upcoming events and trainings please see detailed flyers below or visit our website at www.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
Tristan Villalobos
GCSAC Prevention Educator
tristan@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
Michelle Bartnik
Gratiot Integrated Health Network Therapist
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Child Abuse Prevention Month
Children are not responsible for protecting themselves from abuse. As adults, this is OUR responsibility. In honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, Child Advocacy is emphasizing the many ways we all play a role in keeping children safe. Please take a few moments to read over the bullet points below and visit the corresponding resources to learn ways you can begin or enhance your child protection skills. Child Advocacy offers several trainings, resources, and tools to help you feel confident in preventing child abuse. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
A full calendar of events for Child Abuse Prevention Month can be found at the end of this newsletter.
Parents & Caregivers
- When signing up your child for an after-school activity, camp, daycare, or other setting where other adults will be responsible for keeping your children safe, know that you have every right to request a copy of the organization’s Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct will tell you how staff and volunteers are screened and trained, policies related to adult/child ratios, and strategies in place to protect children from abuse.
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What Parents Need to Know
- Use anatomically-correct names for body parts! Using cutesy or funny names for genitals sends a message that talking about body parts is taboo, awkward, or bad. We want all children to feel comfortable talking to adults when they are hurt, when they have questions, or if someone is touching them in an uncomfortable way. Anatomically-correct names for body parts reduces confusion, creates shared language that we all understand, and empowers children to be the boss of their body.
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Rock the Talk
Youth-Serving Organizations
- Know your organization’s Code of Conduct and mandated reporting policies. A good Code of Conduct outlines rules related to taking children to the restroom, acceptable and unacceptable forms of physical touch, responding to inappropriate behavior, and more. If your organization needs help in updating or creating a Code of Conduct, give us a call.
- Getting Started on Policies and Procedures
- Provide ongoing child abuse prevention training for your staff and volunteers. Regular review of prevention strategies helps staff to feel confident in recognizing and responding responsibly to child abuse, and sends the message that your organization is committed to protecting children. Child Advocacy offers two helpful trainings: Stewards of Children and Mandated Reporter. Trainings are offered on a regular basis, and can be scheduled with your group too.
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Mandated Reporters
All Adults
- Understand the facts of child abuse. 90% of children who are sexually abused are abused by someone they know and trust – not the stranger in the parking lot! These are family members, family friends, babysitters, coaches, and even other children. While hard to understand and accept, we know that this information can be used to better protect children. By implementing body safety rules (at home, in public, in youth-serving settings), screening and training staff and volunteers, having open conversations about bodies and boundaries, recognizing red-flag behavior, and reporting concerns, we can drastically reduce child abuse.
Morgan Rooy
CAN Program Director
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Greetings,
I hope you take a few minutes to look over all of the parenting resources offered in this month's newsletter. We are excited to spend April raising awareness and discussing ways to keep children safe with you. Follow us on Facebook for photos, updates, and valuable information related to child abuse prevention this month.
If you are thinking about joining us for Designer Purse Bingo then please buy your tickets soon. The event is almost to capacity!
Thank you for all that you do to support Child Advocacy and to help keep Gratiot County children safe.
Sincerely,
Audra Stahl
President & CEO
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An Opportunity to Increase Child Abuse Prevention Funding in Gratiot County
In 2020, over twenty-four thousand children in Michigan were abused and/or neglected. Child Advocacy and the Michigan Children’s Trust Fund are teaming up in the effort to change this sobering statistic. Together we create Hope for Michigan’s Children and ensure that they grow up to reach their full potential.
While completing your 2021 Michigan Income Taxes, when you reach Line 22 of the MI-1040, please utilize the Michigan Charitable Contribution Form 4642 to contribute ANY portion of your return to the Michigan Children’s Trust Fund. Your contribution will aid in building strong and resilient children and families to protect against ALL forms of child maltreatment across the State of Michigan and in our local community.
For more information about the Michigan Children’s Trust Fund (CTF), or how you can contribute, please visit www.michigan.gov/ctf.
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