About Us 

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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

"Every child needs a hero,

but abused children need Superheros!" 

This is the slogan for our annual 5K event this year.   Please consider participating in our Superhero 5K - costumes are encouraged but not required.  Participation could include walking, running, or volunteering.  Superhero capes will be for sale the day of the race.  All proceeds go to providing programs and education materials to help prevent child abuse and neglect. 

Enjoy,

Child Advocacy Staff

Check out our website www.linkforfamilies.org.

Child Advocacy Superhero 5K

Saturday, May 10

9:00 a.m.

Alma Armory - 710 N. State

Online registration at runsignup.com 

Registration forms are available at linkforfamilies.org 

Early registration deadline is May 2 

"Every child needs a hero, 

but abused children need superheroes!"

All proceeds go to Child Abuse and

 Neglect programs in Gratiot County.

  

Healing

By: Heather Gardner

One of the goals of The Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) is to create a warm environment for the child and their family; as well as to help them on their path to healing.  Once the child has completed their forensic interview we ask them to choose from a large assortment of buttons we have.  The child will sift through the different choices and pick one that is special to them.  We then show them our "jar of wishes".  This jar collects the buttons and wishes of every child we serve at the CAC. When the child places their button into the jar, we ask them to make a wish.  Once the child makes their wish and places it into the jar, we put the lid back on the jar and let them know that we will keep their wishes safe here in this jar with all the other kids wishes.  We do not ask the child what their wish is, that is something special for them to keep.  

We also have an assortment of quilts, afghans and blankets in the CAC.  Before the child leaves the CAC they are offered one of these to select and take with them.  We have a nice variety of these blankets on hand, so the child is able to pick one that suits their personality. The children love to take their new blanket home with them.  They often wrap themselves up in it and often they will wrap it around their shoulders and use it as a cape to fly out of the CAC. This, is a wonderful moment, for this is the moment we get to see that first step towards healing begin.

We are able to provide our children with these items due to the generous donations of some wonderful people and organizations in our community. A heartfelt thank you to; Audrie Lockwood, The Mid-Michigan Quilters Guild, Alma United Methodist Women, The Linus Ladies of the First Presbyterian Church and Alma Women's Club Members-Jeiselle Ortisi and Mary Hurley for donating wonderful blankets, afghans and quilts to the CAC.  We would also like to thank Sandy Sandel for donating a fantastic assortment of buttons to be used in our jar of wishes. Thank you! Thank you! 

Telling Their Stories

Submitted by 

Michelle Zombeck 

and Ty Warczinsky

May is a month of growth and beauty which is the perfect back drop for Child Advocacy's "Telling Their Story" exhibition.  Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Gratiot County and the Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition (GCSAC) has joined forces to put on an amazing art show that involves children using art to express their feelings and emotions.

CASA is a group of specially trained volunteers and professionals that advocate for children involved in abuse and neglect cases.  Through The Art of Healing Project, children who are being served by a CASA paint canvasses to express their feelings and share their experience. Each child's canvas sends a powerful message about the effects of abuse and neglect.  These paintings expand the depth of the relationship between the CASA and the child.

GCSAC is a countywide collaborative decision-making body of community members that address issues of substance abuse and suicide prevention in Gratiot County.  The Coalition is partnering with area schools to provide an Above the Influence campaign to youth with the goal of helping teens stand up to negative pressures and influences. One component of the campaign is to have students create their own visual expressions of the Above the Influence symbol.  This activity allows the students an opportunity to decide what is important to them and what it really means to live Above the Influence.

Painting is a self soothing experience that can facilitate the ability to verbalize feelings and encourage the expression of traumatic events assisting an adolescent with Telling Their Story.

The exhibition opens at the Alma College Flora Kirsch Beck Gallery Tuesday, May 6th through May 22nd with an opening reception on May 6th from 5:30 until 7:00 p.m.  The community is invited to come meet the artists, the special program volunteers, and to learn more about CASA and Above the Influence.  For more information please call Child Advocacy (989) 463-1422.

Click here to view the event flier.

-- Author Unknown --