Greetings!
Time is really flying by this summer! It won't be long and school will be back in session. If you have children or family members who attend school in Gratiot County we encourage you to educate yourself on our Protect Yourself Program. This program teaches body safety to all 1st and 3rd grade classrooms in Gratiot County by our Prevention Educator, Richelle Davis. Please enjoy an article from Mrs. Davis below and visit our website to learn more about the program.
Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter,
Staci Bigelow
Volunteer/Event Coordinator
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Child Advocacy Virtual
Lunch & Learn
Thursday, August 5, 2021
11:30 am - 12:30 p.m.
Please see the detailed flyer below for event information and registration details.
Caregiver Support Group Virtual Meeting
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
6:00 p.m.
Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition Virtual Meeting
Monday, August 9, 2021
1:00 p.m.
Please email Emily at
Virtual CASA Information Session
August 17, 2021
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
If you would like to learn more about this program or attend our next CASA Volunteer Training, please attend our next Information Session!
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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DARKNESS TO LIGHT'S Stewards of
Children Virtual Training
August 17, 2021
9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Registration required and limited to 15 participants. Contact Morgan Rooy at 989-463-1422 or morgan@childadvocacy.net to reserve your space.
Child Advocacy Community Open House
August 27, 2021
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
We welcome you to visit our new building located at 515 N. State St. - Alma to see our new space, enjoy hotdogs & popcorn provided by Ithaca Lions Club, visit with Alma Police Department & Alma Fire Department as you explore their emergency vehicles, and visit our children's activities located outside, weather permitting. We hope you can attend!
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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
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
Amber Rudd
Central Michigan University Social Work Intern
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Talking to Your Child
About Body Safety
Summer is quickly coming to a close and school will soon be in session, bringing the Protect Yourself program to all 1st and 3rd graders in Gratiot County. The Protect Yourself program is a series of lessons that teach children about strangers, feelings & instincts, tricks & lures, body safety, and who to tell. This is an awesome program that empowers children with the knowledge of how to be the Boss of their Body. It is also important for parents to have open and ongoing conversations with their children at home in natural, everyday situations so children know this is a safe conversation to have.
Subjects to Discuss:
- Teach children proper names for body parts, so if they disclose inappropriate touching, it will be clear what they are talking about.
- Use age appropriate wording. Body safety can be taught without discussing sexuality. Teach them that no one should ever touch them in the areas that their bathing suit covers, and they should never touch anyone else in these areas, or see pictures or movies that show these areas.
- Secrets vs. Surprises. Keeping secrets, especially secrets about touching are never okay. Surprises are safe, such as a surprise birthday party, gift, or hiding place during hide and seek. Surprises never hurt anyone and are always found out. We never keep secrets about touching.
- Help your child come up with 5 people they could talk to if someone were ever touching them or making them feel uncomfortable. Children are not always most comfortable in telling their parents, so it is important they know other trusted adults they can talk to. Tell them to keep telling until someone helps them.
Revisit this safety talk often. Children learn through repetition. How often do you remind your child to look both ways before crossing the street? Educate yourself. Attend one of our Lunch and Learns, attend a Steward of Children training, and follow some of our favorite body safety websites on Facebook, such as The Mama Bear Effect, D2L, and Educate 2 Empower.
Richelle Davis
CAN Prevention Educator
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Greetings,
We are so excited to finally host an open house this month and share our new building with the public. We hope you will join us on Friday, August 27th for our Community Open House from 2:00pm-5:00pm. If you are unable to attend the event, but would still like a tour of our new building, give us a call and we will get that set up for you. We still have some work to do on the decor and the fine details, but overall we are settled in and LOVING the new space! Did I mention how much we LOVE our new building? :) We really really love it! Thank you to everyone who helped make the dream a reality! We appreciate all of you!
Sincerely,
Audra Stahl
President & CEO
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