Greetings!
We hear the question a lot throughout the year, "How can we help?" Your support helps us and that can look different for every individual. Attending our trainings and events, participating in our activities, sharing information about the agency, volunteering, or making donations. They all help us as an agency and help the community members we serve.
If you currently help us in these ways, Thank you! If you are interested in helping please reach out to us, we are always looking for help!
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, October 7, 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, October 12, 2021
6:00 p.m.
Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition Hybrid Meeting
Monday, October 11, 2021
1:00 p.m.
Please email Emily at
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Virtual CASA Information Session
October 27, 2021
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 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/tZEvcuGgqT8pHNVWLlosp4Kek3I2C0KZuZoN
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
DARKNESS TO LIGHT'S Stewards of
Children Training
October 28, 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.
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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
Megan DeYoung
Central Michigan University Social Work Intern
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Prevention Education
My name is Tristan Villalobos and I am the new Prevention Educator here at Child Advocacy. I am a recent graduate of Central Michigan University where I received my Bachelors of Science in Exercise Science: Kinesiology with a minor in science. I have future hopes to continue my education at CMU where I want to get my Master’s degree and become a Physician Assistant. Prior to serving my community at Child Advocacy, I was a Certified Nursing Assistant at Schnepp Senior Care and Rehab Center. I enjoyed the time I was able to spend with my residents laughing and creating bonds that would last a lifetime. As the new Prevention Educator, I am given the opportunity to run a program known as Above the Influence in all of the Gratiot County area schools.
Above the Influence is a group for teens to join once a week and talk about the Influences that are presented in their life. As a group we discuss how to cope and deal with these influences such as alcohol, tobacco, vaping, drug use, and even mental health. We also use student led events to help the community and fellow peers become educated on these same influences. This year in the group we plan on using the high school basketball games to help spread awareness about these influences. The students are going to make signs and banners with our logo and our message to display in their school gym to educate the community as much as we can. The students will participate in an activity known as sticker shock. This is where the Above the Influence group will take the time to travel around the community and display no underage drinking stickers on alcohol at the many vendors in the Gratiot County area. Currently we are also working on a leadership day for the students who attend Above the Influence as they are leading their schools and community by being part of such an amazing program.
Leadership day is a special day to celebrate and educate the Above the Influence kids on being leaders. During this day, there will be speakers who will talk on the many aspects of how to overcome or conquer challenges in life. They will be teaching the kids just how important they are to this community and being Above the Influence. It is going to be an exciting year for our program as we can finally get back into the swing of things after the effects of the pandemic. If you have any questions regarding Above the Influence or just on the many things we do here at GCSAC you can reach me at tristan@childadvocacy.net.
Tristan Villalobos
GCSAC Prevention Educator
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Child Advocacy Ribbon Cutting 2021 |
On Thursday, August 26th we held our Donor Open House at our new building. Pictured above, Audra Stahl, our President & CEO, performed the ribbon cutting with the Gratiot County Chamber, Project Donors, Child Advocacy Board of Directors, Konwinski Construction, and Child Advocacy staff.
We also held a Community Open House on Friday, August 27th which provided tours of the new building and family fun activities outside.
Thank you to everyone who attended both events. We appreciate your support.
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Greetings,
A special thank you to everyone who attended our open houses last month! We had a great time taking people on tours and visiting with the community. If you haven't had a chance to see the new building we would love to have you stop in for a tour.
We would like to thank Konwinski Construction for sponsoring our donor open house, the Lion's Club for providing food and drink at our community open house, Alma College students for volunteering, and Alma PD and Fire for sharing their vehicles with us that day. The kids loved them! A special thank you to board members Annette Weller-Collison and Jennifer Leppien for helping with open house preparations, set up, and the beautiful spread of food.
Lastly, another great big THANK YOU to all of the donors, businesses, organizations, and community members who helped us to take this building from dream to reality! Our gratitude is endless.
Sincerely,
Audra Stahl
President & CEO
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