About Us 

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.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of deaths from cancer for both men and women. Tobacco use causes 87 percent of all deaths from lung cancer. Mid-Michigan Cancer Center is offering smoking cessation education.

If you are interested in learning more about the Lung Clinic, a free telephone screening is available by calling
 989-463-9307
 (press 2).

Quick Links

Greetings!  

Happy Mother's Day!

Our May newsletter is filled with many informative articles on some very important topics.  Learn about prescription drug misuse by teens, the increase of grandparents raising their grandchildren, and talking to children about "safe touch."

May also brings Star Power 2013 and our annual 5K Run/Walk fundraiser.  Please consider joining us at these beneficial events!

Enjoy,

Child Advocacy Staff

Check out our website www.linkforfamilies.org.

 By Richelle Davis, Prevention Educator

Once children can name the private parts of their body and know about different kinds of touches, you can teach them there is another kind of unsafe touch that is okay.  This kind of touch is when someone older or bigger tries to touch the private parts of their body.

In Protect Yourself, we teach children that no one has the right to touch the private parts of their body without a good reason.  You may tell a younger child that another person may not touch their private parts unless it is to keep you clean or healthy.  Your child should understand that the "clean" part of this rule applies to babies and young children at an age where they would need help with diapering, going to the bathroom, or bathing.  The "healthy" part of this rule applies to doctors' visits or being checked by mom or dad if they are injured or have a problem in their private areas.  Make sure your child understands that without a good reason, no one should be touching their private parts, not even if it is someone they know and trust.

Teach your child the following safety rules: 

• It is not okay to touch someone else's private body parts
• It is not okay for someone to touch his/her own private body parts in front of you
• It is not okay for someone to ask you to touch their private body parts
• It is not okay for someone to ask you to take your clothes off or take pictures or videos of you with your clothes off
• It is not okay for someone to show you pictures or videos of people without their clothes on.

Once children have been taught the touching safety rules, they learn what is okay and not okay when it comes to protecting their bodies.  It is amazing the number of children that disclose touching problems after these lessons are taught and share they didn't know these kinds of touches were not okay.  Talk with your child about touching safety today.

Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition

Submitted by Lisa Cannon

National Study:  Teen Misuse and Abuse of Prescription Drugs up 33 Percent Since 2008, Stimulants Contributing to Sustained Rx Epidemic

Parents' Lax Attitudes and Behavior Linked to Teen

Rx Drug Misuse and Abuse

- Nearly One-Third of Parents Believe Stimulants Can Improve Academic Performance, Even for Teens Who Do Not Have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-

New, nationally projectable survey results released on April 23, 2013 by The Partnership at Drugfree.org and MetLife Foundation confirmed that one in four teens has misused or abused a prescription (Rx) drug at least once in their lifetime - a 33 percent increase over the past five years.  The Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) also found troubling data on teen misuse or abuse of prescription stimulants.  One in eight teens (13 percent) now reports that they have taken the stimulants Ritalin or Adderall when it was not prescribed for them, at least once in their lifetime.

Contributing to this sustained trend in teen medicine abuse are the lax attitudes and beliefs of parents and caregivers.  In fact, nearly one-third of parents say they believe Rx stimulants like Ritalin or Adderall, normally prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), can improve a teen's academic performance even if the teen does not have ADHD.  Parents are not effectively communicating the dangers of Rx medicine misuse and abuse to their kids, nor are they safeguarding their medications at home and disposing of unused medications properly. (Read the full report here). 

Parents can make a difference.  Kids who continue to learn about the risk of drugs at home are up to 50% less likely to use drugs than those who are not taught about the dangers.  It's up to YOU to talk openly with your kids!  For more information on this topic, contact Lisa Cannon, Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition at (989) 463-1422 or lisa@linkforfamilies.org or visit www.teens.drugabuse.gov.

Child Advocate of the Year

 by Brenda Shafley

Congratulations to Jennifer Leppien!  She received the Child Advocate of the Year award. Jennifer spends most of her time as a CASA (Child Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer working with children who have been the victims of child abuse and neglect.  Also, she is a Child Abuse & Neglect committee member as well as a Board of Director member of Child Advocacy.

The Organization of the Year award was accepted by His Place Family Enrichment Center at the First Church of God in Alma. The center offers free exercise classes, indoor walking, church basketball leagues, after school programs for young children, summer camps for children and music and movement program for preschoolers. Congratulations to His Place!

Both recipients were very deserving of the awards.  In both cases, children of Gratiot County are being positively impacted by these individuals.