Greetings!
September is Suicide Awareness Month - you can find information on our activities for the month below.
We are also hosting our Trivia Night Fundraiser this month. If you are interested in participating, sponsoring, or donating to our silent auction please contact me at staci@childadvocacy.net or call (989)463-1422.
Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter,
Staci Bigelow
Volunteer/Event Coordinator
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Child Advocacy Lunch & Learn
Thursday, September 1, 2022
11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m.
Lunch & Learns are held the first Thursday of each month, please see the detailed flyer below for this months topic and registration information.
Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition Meeting
Monday, September 12, 2022
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
If interested in attending or for more information please email Emily at
Caregiver Support Group Virtual Meeting
Tuesday September 13, 2022
6:00 p.m.
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CASA Information Session
Friday, September 9, 2022
9:00 a.m.
Please see the detailed flyer below for event information and registration details.
Trivia Night
Thursday, September 15, 2022
Doors open at 6:00p.m., Trivia begins at 7:00p.m
Please see the detailed flyer below or contact Staci (989)463-1422 if you have questions or would like to make a donation.
Darkness to Light's Stewards of Children Virtual Training
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Please see the detailed flyer below for event information and registration details.
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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 Scherzer
Office Manager
pam@childadvocacy.net
Staci Bigelow
Event/Volunteer Coordinator
staci@childadvocacy.net
Emily Rayburn
GCSAC Program Director
emily@childadvocacy.net
Sara Krebs
GCSAC Prevention
Coordinator
sara@childadvocacy.net
Ryan Donley
GCSAC Prevention Educator
ryan@childadvocacy.net
Zach Bates
GCSAC Prevention Educator
zach@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
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Gratiot County Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention Coalition
What a wild year 2022 has been! I hope that this finds you well—mentally and physically.
With all of the changes that we all have experienced over the past couple of years, I wanted to let you know that your Gratiot County Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention Coalition continues to focus on Suicide Prevention and Awareness throughout our County.
The staff and members have been working tirelessly to make sure that our efforts continue to provide education and support to the residents of Gratiot County. We have been attending trainings, hosting our coalition meetings via Zoom, planning for this upcoming school year, and planning our usual September Suicide Prevention and Awareness events.
As the Program Director, I wanted to take this time to invite anyone whom has been contemplating or curious about our Coalition, to join us for our upcoming meeting September 12, 2022 at 1:00PM. It is our mission to collect and share data in order to develop and implement prevention strategies. It is also our mission to promote and inspire community collaboration to reduce the misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, or other substances among youth and adults, along with providing education regarding suicide prevention and awareness. At this specific meeting we will be hosting a special IN-PERSON viewing of My Ascension, a powerful documentary following the life of a suicide attempt survivor, Emma.
Throughout the month of September GCSAC also is partnering with our amazing community partners to bring you other events such as yoga at ZenLightenment, informational booths at our Farmer’s Markets and awareness walks, Fields of Flags and much more.
To be added to our contact list to learn about meeting locations/online meeting invitations, or other questions regarding our September Events, please email Emily Rayburn at emily@childadvocacy.net!
We look forward to welcoming you to our group and seeing you at one of our amazing events!
Emily Rayburn
GCSAC Program Director
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New Home for Gratiot County Foster Closet
On August 1st, Child Advocacy welcomed the Gratiot County Foster Closet to our agency! The Foster Closet (previously known as the Mid-Michigan Foster and Adoptive Coalition) has been a wonderful resource for foster families over the last 6 years and Child Advocacy is thrilled to continue this amazing program.
The Foster Closet provides children the opportunity to choose needed items in a shopping environment. While at the closet, children feel supported and begin to rebuild their self-esteem. The Closet also offers resources for caregivers and a sense of community.
Due to the donations from our community we are able to serve children in size newborn to 6T in our Baby Pantry and size 7 and up in the Foster Closet.
Three times a year the Foster Closet will offer sponsorship opportunities to support children and families. A community sponsor will be paired with a foster child supplying items for back to school (Fostering Learning), Christmas (Fostering Joy), and summertime (Fostering Fun). We look forward to carrying on this tradition. Christmas is 115 days away…
The Foster Closet is housed at the Wilcox Non-Profit Center (525 N State St, Alma) on the 1st floor. Shopping opportunities are by appointment, so call today. We ask that all donations are delivered or mailed to Child Advocacy (515 N. State St., Alma). If you are interested in volunteering, supporting, or donating, please contact Rachel at rachel@childadvocacy.net or 989-463-1422.
Rachel Molands
CASA Recruitment Coordinator
Pantry Coordinator
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Greetings,
We have had an exciting summer here at Child Advocacy! Most recently we have had some staffing changes within the agency. As mentioned, the Foster Closet, is being run by Rachel Molands; along with the Baby Pantry, Food Pantry, and our "Supply the Cycle" program, Rachel is now the Coordinator of what we are calling our "Pantry Programs". Stay tuned for more exciting updates related to this program.
Ty Warczinsky, Gratiot Co Substance Abuse Coalition (GCSAC) Program Director, has left us to go to Vestaburg Schools for a new opportunity. Emily Rayburn has stepped into the role as GCSAC Program Director. She will continue her duties running the Substance Abuse Coalition while in the leadership role as Program Director. We have hired a second GCSAC Prevention Educator, Zach Bates, to work with our Middle and High School students in the County. Zach has a teaching degree from CMU and most recently taught at St. Louis High School. He will be working alongside Ryan Donley coordinating our Above the Influence Programs, and teaching substance abuse and suicide prevention in all of our Gratiot County Schools. We are excited to welcome Zach to Child Advocacy!
We have welcomed new volunteers, interns, and staff to the team this Summer and we look forward to this new school year. If you are interested in a volunteer opportunity here at Child Advocacy please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We couldn't do all that we do without all of you.
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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