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About Us | |
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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 -
Executive Director Ronda Sorensen - Parent Educator Brenda Shafley- Office Assistant Pam Mahin - RRC Coordinator Lisa Cannon-
GSAC Coordinator
Richelle Davis -
Prevention Educator
Board of Directors President - Kent Schulze Dept. of Human Services Vice President - Wes Wickes Youth for Christ Treasurer - Madonna Adkins EightCAP inc. Secretary -
Kim Vetter
MI State Police
Mt. Pleasant Post
Lori Apple
Comm. Mental Health - Isabella Co.
Kristin Bakker Prosecuting Attorney's Office
Wendy Currie
Mid Michigan Dist. Health Dept.
Toni Davis Women's Aid Service Rob DuHadway DuHadway Dance Dimensions Mike Hetzman
Comm. Mental Health - Gratiot Co. Retired-EightCAP inc. David Justin Alma School Board Dan Buschle Community Member
Carolyn Studley
Retired Alma Public Schools
Jennifer Leppien
CASA Volunteer
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Car Seat Safety | |
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Did you know that at Child Advocacy we can install and provide a safety inspection for your child safety seat? Child Advocacy has a nationally certified safety seat technician available!
To make an appointment call 989-463-1422 or 800-552-4489 |
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Permanent Prescription Drop Off
Sites
Alma Police Dept.
525 E. Superior St.
Mon. - Fri.
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Gratiot Co. Sheriff
226 E. Center
Ithaca
open 24 hrs./day
7 days/week
Both sites accept
prescription pills, liquids, and patches. | |
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Greetings!
School is almost out which means summer is officially here!
Are you looking for activities to entertain and stimulate children? Consider a reading program at your local library or checking out our theme based educational totes from our Lending Library. More information on these programs are included in this newsletter.
Enjoy,
Child Advocacy Staff
Check out our website www.linkforfamilies.org. |
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Senate Bill 1082 - Synthetic Drugs
The Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition and the Gratiot County Collaborative strive to address the needs of individuals within our communities. One of the areas we are working on is the synthetic drug issue. Last month, we formed a synthetic drug workgroup to look at how we are going to get a handle on this issue. Senator Dave Hildenbrand is also working very hard on getting legislation passed to ban these substances.
As you are reading this article there is proposed legislation in the Senate to ban synthetic cannibinoids. Once the bill passes the Senate, the House of Representatives would also need to pass it. If the bill is passed in both houses it will take effect 90 days after it is signed into law. The bill would amend the Public Health Code to prohibit and prescribe a criminal penalty for selling a named product that currently or previously contained a Schedule 1 controlled substance, without disclosing that it no longer contains the scheduled ingredient or while representing that it currently contains the scheduled ingredient or a similar ingredient. The bill also would revise the listing of synthetic cannabinoids in Schedule 1. Basically, what this bill will do is make it illegal for businesses to sell any type of synthetic drugs.
One way you can help us address this issue is send your local Senator and Representative a letter or an email asking them to support SB 1082. If you live in Gratiot County your senator is Dr. Roger Kahn and your representative is Paul Opsommer. If you would like to be a part of the workgroup formed in Gratiot County, please contact Lisa Cannon, Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator, at 989-462-0142 or lisa@linkforfamilies.org. As a parent, it is our responsibility to keep our children safe......
Addresses for Senator Kahn & Representative Opsommer
Senator Roger Kahn Representative Paul Opsommer
P.O. 30036 P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, Mi 48909 Lansing, MI 48909
senrkahn@senate.michigan.gov paulopsommer@house.michigan.gov
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Lending Library
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Do you need something new to do with your children this summer? Come check out our lending library and see all the materials that are available for you to use free of charge.
We have "Story Stretchers" that include a book and an activity sheet, with activities included to stretch the story over several days, theme based totes that include books, puzzles, music, manipulatives, puppets, a tent, a ball, a tunnel, dramatic play items, etc. Many of these items can be used inside as well as outside.
These items are available to be checked out for 2 weeks at a time and can be checked out by parents, grandparents, child care providers or anyone who is caring for young children. For more information call Child Advocacy at (989) 463-1422 or visit us at 525 N. State Street, Suite 4, Alma. |
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Consider Making a Donation to the
Children's Advocacy Center of Gratiot County's "Giving Wall"!
Be a part of history, as Child Advocacy opens the doors to the Children's Advocacy Center of Gratiot County Summer of 2012.
* A Child and Family Friendly Facility * Forensic Interviewing Services * Victim Advocacy and Support
* Specialized Mental Health Services * Family Support
* Community Education and Outreach * Specialized Medical Evaluation and Treatment * Follow Up Services
The "Giving Wall" allows the community to make a meaningful tax deductible donation to this much needed Center in our community. Donors' names will be displayed on the "Giving Wall" inside the Children's Advocacy Center. By making a donation,every child who enters the center will see that you care about them and that you are a part of a community that does not tolerate child abuse and neglect.The children of Gratiot County deserve the best start in life.
Please consider donating today.
Donations may be sent to
Child Advocacy
525 N. State Street, Suite 4
Alma, MI 48801.
For further information, please contact Audra Stahl at
(989) 463-1422. |
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Summer Reading Programs at Local Libraries
Our local libraries have some great reading programs organized for the summer. Click on the links below for more information.
Alma Public Library
Thompson Home Library - Ithaca
Chippewa River District Library- Veterans Memorial Library, Faith Johnston Memorial Library, Coe Township Library, Fremont Township Library, Rolland Township Library |
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Welcome Brittany Buschle
Brittany Buschle is our summer intern. She is a senior at Central Michigan University. Her major is Family Studies with a minor in Sociology.
Brittany is a 2007 Alma High School graduate. She is excited to work at Child Advocacy and is ready to start helping in any way possible. |
 Above the Influence Art Work
If you missed seeing the artwork at ArtVentures during May, you can view it at the Gratiot-Isabella RESD in Ithaca during the month of June.
Please take time to visit the exhibit to see how students in Gratiot County are choosing to live Above the Influence. |
Scheduled Classes
Daycare Provider Trainings -
Monday, June 11
Stress Relief: Calgon Take me Away!
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Veteran's Memorial Library - Mt. Pleasant
Cost $25
Wednesday, June 20
Exploring Math and Science in Early Childhood
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Veteran's Memorial Library - Mt. Pleasant
Cost $25
Great Start to Quality Orientation - Aids/Relatives
Wednesday, June 13
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Winding Brook - Shepherd
8240 S. Genuine Road
No Cost
Foster/Adoptive/Relative Care Support Group
Tuesday, June 12 and 26
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Youth for Christ - Alma
No Cost
No childcare available during the summer.
Please call our office at (989) 463-1422 to register or to get more information. |
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Save the Date
Plaid Duathlon
5K run (3.1 miles)
12K bike (7.46 miles)
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Start and finish at Alma College
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Summer Hours
Starting June 1, 2012
Monday - Thursday
9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
CLOSED FRIDAY |
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What a great school year! The "Protect Yourself" program was taught to 784 Gratiot County 1st and 3rd graders in 34 classrooms in 8 schools. A series of safety lessons that teaches children to how to recognize and respond to abduction and abusive situations our Gratiot County students learned how to Say "NO", Get Away, and Tell Someone!
The MiPHY, Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth, was administered in all 6 of our Gratiot County schools. The data gathered from this survey will allow the Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition and local schools to identify the needs of our teens and provide appropriate programs.
We also kicked off the "Above the Influence" program in 5 local high schools and 1 middle school. The program teaches teens to rise above the negative influences in their lives. Gratiot County Teens created amazing art work and videos showing us what they have chosen to rise above.
We are so proud of all the students we had the privilege of working with this year! We truly have amazing schools in Gratiot County. We look forward to picking up where we left off in the Fall.
Have a great Summer!
Sincerely,
Audra Stahl
Executive Director |
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