Late January 2021
Building Skills for 2021
As we continue to build resilience in the new year, these events offer an opportunity to bring a sense of accomplishment and control to our lives. Take advantage of these winter days to learn, grow and make time to take care of yourself. Get outside, move and laugh!
SCAN Trainings
Join the Ottawa County Stop Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) Council and Arbor Circle to increase knowledge and skills around the prevention of child maltreatment and building resiliency in families. All sessions are from 9-11am unless otherwise noted. Training costs are $5-$10 depending on credit hours with scholarships available.
Topics include:
Feb. 10th: Intro to Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework
March 10th: Period of Purple Crying for Home Visitors
For more information on the trainings and scholarships contact Stephanie Williams at [email protected]

Virtual Parenting Series
Mondays at 8-9pm

2/1: Breath as a parenting technique
2/8: Communicating effectively for your child's education
2/15: I love you rituals and building connection
2/22: Noticing as a strategy for cooperation
3/1: Identifying a mental health concern in children and youth

Arbor Circle is bringing parenting support to you! This series focuses on building connections between parents and caregivers while providing opportunities to share ideas for facing current challenges. Join us Monday nights as we embark on a journey exploring a variety of different topics.

For more information find our events on Facebook at @MuskegonParents or @ArborCircle.
Strong Connections
The pandemic has been hard on everyone, especially our teenagers, who are already navigating many challenges in their lives. To help address this need, Arbor Circle is launching the Strong Connections Teen Group. This group gives teens who may be struggling an opportunity to learn various life/coping skills and to become more familiar with mental health issues. It also gives them a chance to connect with their peers, something that can be difficult right now. Forming connections is crucial to teen social and emotional development.
Examples of topics to be covered are:
Managing Stress and Anxiety
Effective Communication
 Building Relationships
    Decision-Making
Goal Setting
The Strong Connections Teen Group meets once weekly on Tuesdays from 4:00 to 5:00pm. All meetings are held virtually through Zoom. The group is open to any teenagers between the ages of 13-17.
To register for the program or to make a referral, please contact Colin Moylan at [email protected]. 
The BRY Lunch Series
Tuesdays 12-1pm
Building Resilient Youth lunch series continues through the month of February with a slate of educational, inspirational and actionable topics focusing on relationships that will make your Tuesday lunch hour into a weekly event you won't want to miss.
February topics include:
2/2: ACE's
2/9: Healthy Relationships
2/16: Toxic Masculinity
2/23: Child Trauma
Go to the BRY events page to register. See you Tuesday at noon!

The StayWell site, launched by MDHHS , offers many mental health resources to help us all navigate the special challenges that this pandemic has brought. The site offers recorded webinars, resources for locating a variety of mental health supports and many virtual support groups, including groups for parents, educators, and front line workers.
Take advantage of this free resource of family support groups in February.
Crisis Resources
If you feel like you are in a crisis, or that anyone in your family is in crisis, here are some important numbers:
  • 24 hour Ottawa County Hotlines: in Grand Haven: 616-842 HELP (4357); in Holland: **616-396-HELP(4357) all other areas 1-866-512 HELP(4357)
  • Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
  • Arbor Circle in Holland: 616-396-2301
  • Catholic Charities: 616- 796-9595
  • Wedgewood Christian Services: 616- 930-5004
  • Ottawa CMH: 616-392-1873
  • DHHS Warmline: 1-888-733-7753 10am-2am help for anxiety, depression, and trauma, staffed by peer support specialists.
  • AA meetings online: https://www.aaonlinemeeting.net/
  • NA meetings: https://virtual-na.org/
  • Alanon meetings: https://al-anon.org/al-anon-meetings/
  • Resource help: http://211.org/
  • Positive Options is ready to serve you if you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. It offers free pregnancy testing, options counseling and early ultrasound (upon eligibility). Visit mypositiveoptions.org or call a center near you. (Holland - 616 396-5840; Grand Haven - 616 842-7510; Allendale - 616 895-1893; Allegan - 269-686-7111)
Ottawa Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition
Contact Leigh Moerdyke at [email protected]


Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/OSAPCoalition
Talk Early. Talk Often. Learn How. www.talksooner.org