CA with tag line 

 525 N. State Street � Suite 4 � Alma, MI 48801 
(989) 463-1422

"May you achieve all your 
aspirations this year.
May you have a 
brilliant New Year."

- Anonymous -
In This Issue
Upcoming Events
Prescription Drug Abuse
CASA Winner
Thank You!!!
Shop with a Hero Program
Scheduled Classes

About Us 

 

 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
   
Pam Mahin
Office Manager

 

Ty Warczinsky 
GCSAC Coordinator
 
 Richelle Davis 
Prevention Educator
 
Heather Gardner
 CAC Coordinator
 
Michelle Zombeck
 CASA Coordinator 
 
Brenda Shafley
Event/Volunteer Coordinator
 
 

Board of Directors 

President
Wes Wickes
Youth for Christ
  
Vice President 
Jennifer Leppien
CASA
  
Treasurer
Carolyn Studley
  Community Representative

Secretary 
 Kelly Piotrowski
Dept. of Human Services

 

Colleen Davis
Prosecuting Attorney's Office 
   
Rob DuHadway
DuHadway Dance Dimensions

    Carolyn Hilley
 Gratiot Co. Comm. Mental Health

David Justin
 Alma School Board
  
Mike Morris
Detective, Gratiot Co. Sheriff's Dept. 
  
Jamie Richardson
Doehring Schultz Insurance Agency

Matt Schooley
City of Alma Transportation

 Jennifer Siefker
Tri Lakes Petroleum
  
Jennifer Stambaugh
DeafBlind Central CMU

Andrea Tabor 
Mid MI District Health Dept
 
Joe Yourchock
Community Representative

Kim Vetter
MI State Police
 

Car

Seat Safety

 

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

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.

 

Your Feedback!

 
"Thank you for the privilege of helping with Shop with a Hero.  What a great event!  I don't know who was more excited and pleased, the officers or the children.  It was so heartwarming to see the smiles and gifts these adorable children were able to chose for their families. 

Thanks to your agency, you helped make Christmas a memorable one for all the children who participated."

Linda,

United Way and Optimist Club Member
 

 

Quick Links

 
Join Our Mailing List

  

  

Welcome to 2015!!

 

With a refreshing start to a bright new year, Child Advocacy is pleased to offer the Free Family Carnival & Expo to residence of Gratiot County.  This event is a fun-filled day for all families.  

 

 We are also excited to announce that we will host our first Princess and Pirates Fundraiser on Sunday, February 15th at the First Presbyterian Church in Alma.  See below for details! 

 

Enjoy,

Child Advocacy Staff

 

Check out our website www.linkforfamilies.org.

Upcoming Events
 
Free Family Carnival & Expo 2015
Saturday, January 24, 2015
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Central Michigan Youth for Christ - Alma
Contact Child Advocacy at (989) 463-1422 with any questions. 
For a vendor registration form, please click here.

FREE Refreshments!  FREE Children's games and activities!  FREE Information for Families of all ages!

 

Princess & Pirate Royal Fundraiser
You are invited to a Royal Fundraiser on Sunday, February 15th at the First Presbyterian Church in Alma.

Draw Bridge opens at 3:00 p.m. and closes at 5:00 p.m.
Princesses, Princes, Kings, Queens, Captains, Pirates, and Mermaids are all welcome! Princess and Pirate attire encouraged, but not required.

 

Tickets -$10 a person in advance
$15 at the door

 

Photo Opportunities with real Princesses, Snacks, Games, Treasure, Updo's, and MORE...........

 

All proceeds to benefit the Children's Advocacy Center of Gratiot County.

Prescription Drug Abuse

by: Ty Warczinsky

GCSAC Coordinator

 

As many of you may know, prescription drug abuse has become a large-scale problem within our society and that includes our community.  Recent reports conclude that one in five teens have abused prescription drugs, and 70% of those that have abused, got their drugs from friends and family.

 

Unfortunately, the DEA has dropped the nationwide prescription take-back day which has left many communities void of a solution of how to dispose of their prescription meds. Gratiot County's four police departments, St. Louis P.D., Breckenridge P.D., Alma P.D., and the Sheriff's Dept., have collaborated to find a way to properly dispose of our county's prescription drugs.  This will allow Alma P.D. and the Sheriff's Dept. to keep their prescription drug boxes available to the community for disposal of their leftover prescriptions, and St. Louis P.D. is also installing a box of its own.

 

Without the efforts of our local police departments, prescription drop-box sites could have been discontinued.  However, now our county will not have only two but three disposal sites in the near future. 

CASA Drawing Winner
Congratulation to Amanda Gross on being the winner of the 55" T.V. Karen Kerr was the winner of the $50 Walmart Gift Card.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the raffle.  We appreciated your support!

 

Thank you!!!

By: Heather Gardner

CAC Coordinator

 

We would like to say a huge thank you to the many people who donated pajamas to The Children's Advocacy Center of Gratiot County. There are times during child abuse investigations that a child's belongings are taken into evidence as part of the investigation. Pajamas are often one of the items that are submitted for evidence.  

 

There are also times where as a result of the abuse, the child no longer has access to their belongings or the belongings they do have hold difficult memories.  Thank you to the many generous people in our community who have by their donations, helped to bring warmth and comfort to the children and families we work with.  It truly is a wonderful community we live in and the outpouring of donations from many different individuals and organizations has been amazing.  Thank you!

Shop with a Hero Program

The third annual Shop with a Hero program was a huge success!  Thank you to Gratiot County Community Foundation, Meijer, Walmart, First Presbyterian Church Alma, all of the Heros, and all of the volunteers.  

With all of the support, we were able to brighten the holiday season for 62 children in Gratiot County!

Scheduled Classes

 

Foster/Adoptive/Relative Care Support Group

Tuesday, January 13

6:00 p.m.

Youth for Christ - Alma

 

Nurturing Parenting Class 

(for parents and their 5-11 year old children)

starts Thursday, January 8 for 10 consecutive weeks

5:00 p.m. Light meal served

5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. class

United Methodist Church - St. Louis

To register, please call our office.


 

Please call our office with questions about any of the above classes/workshops at (989) 463-1422.
Happy New Year!

2014 was such a productive and exciting year for Child Advocacy!  We have all of you to thank for our successes and for helping to keep this agency up and running.  Your donations, gifts, volunteer time, ideas, suggestions, and praise are what keeps our staff moving forward taking on new programs, difficult subject matter, and really making a difference in the lives of children and their families!!!  We truly thank you and we look forward to doing even more in 2015!

Please plan to join us for our Family Carnival and Expo on Saturday, January 24th.  (See above)  This is an excellent event that is completely FREE!  We would also like to invite you to attend our first ever Princess and Pirates Party!  The fundraiser will help provide services to child abuse victims who visit our Children's Advocacy Center.

We look forward to seeing you in 2015!

Sincerely,
Audra Stahl
Executive Director