Greetings!
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month!
Please show your support by attending one of our virtual trainings, visiting our website to order a prevention package of information, or by wearing blue each Monday of the month to show support and raise awareness with us!
Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter,
Staci Bigelow
Volunteer/Event Coordinator
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Every Monday in April:
Blue Monday wear blue, send us your photos, and we'll feature you on our Facebook page!
Photos can be sent through Facebook messenger or to staci@childadvocacy.net.
Child Advocacy April Virtual
Lunch & Learn
Thursday, April 1, 2021
11:30 am - 1:00 p.m.
Please see the detailed flyer below for event information and registration details.
#GiveBackSaturday
Saturday, April 3, 2021
Hearthstone Oven in Ithaca will be donating 10% of all sales to Child Advocacy as part of a special campaign. Head over to Hearthstone and support Child Advocacy!
Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition Virtual Meeting
Monday, April 12, 2021
1:00 p.m.
Please email Emily at
Caregiver Support Group Virtual Meeting
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
6:00 p.m.
Nom Nom Ninja Food Truck Fundraiser
Thursday, April 15, 2021
10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Please see the detailed flyer below for event information.
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Virtual CASA Information Session
April 17, 2021
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.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: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUlceyopzIqHtb-SqVk_HASHhCH89VUctHr
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
QPR Training: Question Persuade Refer
Thursday, April 22, 2021
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Please see the detailed flyer below for event information and registration details.
DARKNESS TO LIGHT'S Steward of
Children Virtual Training
April 26, 2021
1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Registration required and limited to 15 participants. Contact Morgan Rooy at 989-463-1422 or morgan@childadvocacy.net by 4/23/2021 to reserve your space.
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
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
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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April is Alcohol Awareness
Month
Rites of passage:
Hispanic Coming of Age Tradition: Quinceanera
“In many parts of Central and South America, young girls celebrate their Quinceanera when they turn 15 years old. The coming of age tradition typically begins with a Catholic mass where the girl renews her baptismal vows and solidifies her commitment to her family and faith. Immediately following the mass is a fiesta where friends and family eat and dance.”
Inuit Coming of Age Tradition: North Baffin Island
“In North Baffin Island, Inuit boys have traditionally gone out to the wilderness with their fathers between the ages of 11 and 12 to test their hunting skills and acclimate to the harsh arctic weather. As part of the tradition, a shaman would be called to open the lines of communication between men and animals. Nowadays, however, this tradition has been extended to young girls as well, as “outcamps” are established away from the community in order for traditional skills to be passed down and practiced by the young men and women.”
Japanese Coming of Age Tradition: Seijin-no-Hi
“In Japan, the second Monday of January marks a special day- the day in which 20 year old's get to dress up in their finest traditional attire, attend a ceremony in local city offices, receive gifts, and party to their hearts’ content amongst friends and family. It’s their Coming of Age Festival, otherwise known as Seijin-no-Hi. The tradition started nearly 1200 years ago and recognizes the age when the Japanese believe youth become mature, contributing members of society.”
Rites of passage are a beautiful part of people’s culture and history. Here in America we have many rites of passage because we are a nation of collected cultures. However, one rite of passage has become extremely popular in the last 15-20 years. When a young woman or a young man turns, 21 he/she is taken out for a night at the bar. Alcohol is a huge part of our culture/society. Alcohol is a subject that is tough to talk about because alcohol is deeply ingrained in people’s lives. There are many great memories that come along with alcohol, but there are also many issues when it is not used responsibly or at the appropriate age. This is a call for all parents to talk to their youth about waiting to use. Drugfree.org reports 90% of Americans who struggle with addiction started using substances before the age of 18, and 1 in 4 Americans who began using substances before the age of 18 become addicted: compared to 1 in 25 who began at the age of 21 or older. Numbers don’t lie, and there is a great deal at stake for our youth’s future because they often use alcohol before the age of 21. Parents, conversations need to be had, expectations need to be communicated. Let us all play our parts in preventing a generation from struggling with Alcohol Use Disorder.
Some Recommendations for parents:
-Set a good example regarding substance use
-Restrict access to addictive substances
-Communicate clear, consistent no-use messages
-Consistently enforce rules
Ty Warczinsky
Gratiot County Substance Abuse Program Director
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Countering Child Abuse in a Pandemic – A CAC Snapshot
The number of Gratiot County children and adolescents victimized by child abuse and neglect is typically consistent with national trends. Of children who are sexually abused in our community, nine out of 10 are abused or assaulted by someone they know and over two-thirds (67%) of those perpetrators are relatives. Much like the rest of the country, the #metoo movement ushered in a wave of children and teens speaking out about their abuse. As a result, the number of children visiting the Children’s Advocacy Center of Gratiot County (CAC) increased by 60% over previous years and remained steady in the year that followed. This past year, the COVID-19 pandemic created another surge in CAC visits.
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This year’s 29% jump in forensic interviews largely results from an increase in cases involving child physical abuse, neglect, and drug endangerment. Safety measures put in place as a result of COVID-19 have had an impact on the ability of children and families to cope with a wide range of new and unique challenges. While children and families arriving at the CAC are often overwhelmed by the purpose of their visit – investigating child sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, drug endangerment or children witnessing violence – the fallout of the pandemic has compounded the trauma. This is both the trend nationally and here in our community. In addition, substance use among family members visiting the CAC is on the rise with an increase of 23% of cases this year over last. A closer look at those individuals reveals a 33% jump in marijuana use and a startling 53% increase in the use of methamphetamines.
To counter these issues, CAC Victim Advocates work with children and families to overcome the trauma experienced as a result of abuse and neglect and, this year, the underlying challenges presented by the pandemic. Since April 2020, over 1,100 services have been provided to those visiting the CAC at Child Advocacy. Services include crisis intervention, referrals to trauma informed therapy and other necessary community resources, regular follow-up check-in calls, assistance with paperwork, assistance with victim impact statements and court accompaniment, assistance with understanding the criminal justice process, and information on available resources to address addiction to mention only a few.
Those interested in learning more about how the CAC is working with children and families, please don’t hesitate to call Child Advocacy at 989-463-1422.
Heather Therrien
Children's Advocacy Center Program Director
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Greetings,
I hope this newsletter finds you well. We have such an exciting month of activities designed to help keep our children safe, provide educational experiences for people of all walks of life, and bring awareness to child abuse prevention. I look forward to seeing all of your "Blue Monday" photos throughout the month of April.
Sincerely,
Audra Stahl
President & CEO
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