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Permanent Prescription Drug Drop Off

Site

Gratiot Co. Sheriff

226 E. Center

Ithaca

open 24 hrs./day

7 days/week

The site accepts

prescription pills, liquids, and patches.

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Gobble Gobble!

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, it seems appropriate to take a moment to say how thankful Child Advocacy is for your support of our agency and our mission.  Without the partnerships, collaboration, businesses, and community support, Child Advocacy could not be what it is today!  

This month read how well Gratiot County businesses did with tobacco and alcohol compliance checks.  Also, learn more about Human Trafficking.  Being educated about such a crime, is the best way to protect your children.

Enjoy,

Child Advocacy Staff

Check out our website www.linkforfamilies.org.

by Ty Warczinsky

GCSAC Coordinator

Over the past year, the Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition along with the help of the St. Louis PD, Alma PD, Breckenridge PD and the Sheriff's Department sent minors into our local businesses to see if they were being compliant with the Alcohol and Tobacco laws.  We conducted 40 Tobacco compliance checks county wide, and out of those 40, 31 businesses did not sell to the minor.  We also conducted 15 Alcohol compliance checks, and 13 of the 15 businesses did not sell to the minor.  We are grateful and thankful for that the majority of businesses that were compliant with the law.

This past month, the Coalition partnered with a number of local businesses and ran a sticker shock campaign with our Above the Influence program. Sticker Shock is a campaign designed to reach adults who might purchase alcohol legally and provide it to minors. During the week of their homecomings, students from Ashley H.S., Alma H.S., Fulton H.S. and Ithaca H.S. went around to local business and put a sticker on any alcoholic product reminding the community that it is illegal for anyone to provide alcohol to a minor.  The Substance Abuse Coalition would like to thank: Alma's Dollar General, Ithaca's Dollar General, Alma's Beacon and Bridge, both of Ithaca's Beacon and Bridge stores, Boomer's Deli and Party Store in Alma, Ithaca's Sav-a-lot, Foote's Party Story in Ashley, Daggett's Grocery Store in Ashley, and The Store in Elm Hall for participating in this event. 

Human Trafficking

By: Heather Gardner

I recently had the opportunity to present at our Annual Mother Daughter Conference on the important issue of Human Trafficking.  

Public knowledge of this horrible crime has been growing over recent years due to new legislation and awareness campaigns.  The state of Michigan has been at the national forefront in establishing Human Trafficking Laws and identifying victims.  Here are some interesting facts:

• There are currently 27 million slaves worldwide and half of these victims are children.
• Human Trafficking is the second largest criminal industry in the world generating $31 Billion dollars per year.  Drug Trafficking is the first largest crime generating $32 Billion dollars per year.
• Anywhere there is a drug issue, you will also find Human Trafficking.
• 1.6-2.8 million children run away each year.  The average age of a female runaway is 12-14 years old and a male runaway average age is 11-13 years old.  One third of these children will be recruited into prostitution and/or pornography within 48 hours of running away.
• Detroit (including outlying suburbs) ranks 4th in the top cities for sexually exploited children.
• In 2013 "Operation Cross Country" was conducted nationally.  Detroit ranked 1st    nationally in the most number of pimps arrested and 2nd second for most Trafficked Children recovered (second only to San Francisco).
• The largest Trafficking event in the United States is The Super Bowl.

To learn more about Human Trafficking including warning signs and ways to respond to victims, please follow the following link:  www.polarisproject.org.