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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
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
Steve Benn
Detective/Sgt.
MI State Police
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
Jennifer Stambaugh
DeafBlind Central CMU
Andrea Tabor
Mid MI District Health Dept
Joe Yourchock
Community Representative
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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 Drug Drop Off
Site
Gratiot Co. Sheriff
226 E. Center
Ithaca
open 24 hrs./day
7 days/week
Alma Police Dept.
525 E. Superior St.
Hours
8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday
St. Louis Police Dept.
108 W. Saginaw St.
Hours
Mon. 7 - 3
Tues. - Fri. 8 - 4
The sites accept
prescription pills, liquids, and patches.
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Your Feedback!
Thank you everyone for playing...was the best turnout yet and you helped a great organization raise a lot of money tonight!!! Thanks for your support, it means a lot to me and my family to have not only my hometown involved, but you guys right next door as well. Appreciate the enthusiasm and hard work gentlemen.
Alex Stahl - Message to players - Alumni Charity Basketball Game
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May is a fun and exciting month at Child Advocacy!
This month we host our biggest fundraiser - the Superhero 5K, we hold our agency banquet, and CASA and GCSAC will be hosting Telling Their Stories art show. Details of these events are below.
Come out and show your support by attending one of these awesome events!
Enjoy,
Child Advocacy Staff
Check out our website www.linkforfamilies.org.
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Upcoming Events
Telling Their Stories
Opening night - Monday, May 4
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Alma College Flora Kirsch Gallery
Please join us in supporting children from Gratiot County schools and the CASA program who are Telling Their Stories. The artwork is a visual expression of the students' personal influences and will be on display until May 22.
Child Advocacy Superhero 5K
Run/Walk/Fly
Please mark your calendar for the 8th annual 5K race! Superhero costumes are encouraged but are not required. Saturday, May 9 at 9:00 a.m. Alma Armory, 710 N. State St. Preregistration ends May 3.
Child Advocacy Banquet Join us as we celebrate those who advocate and care for children and for those who strive to improve the welfare of children and their families!
Thursday, May 14
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Central Michigan Youth for Christ - Alma
$12 Lunch Buffet
Please call the Child Advocacy office at (989) 463-1422 to purchase tickets in advance.
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Above the Influence Program
By Ty Warczinsky GCSAC Coordinator
Prom and Graduation are right around the corner, which means our teens are faced with many difficult decisions. The Above the Influence students of Gratiot County are trying to influence their peers in a number of ways: In preparation for prom, Ashley High School students held an assembly for their peers on the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Fulton High School students are planning a prescription drug awareness week, hoping to educate their peers on the dangers of prescription drugs. Alma High School is partnering with local business to provide an opportunity for students to receive a discount if they sign a pledge card committing to live above the influence of drugs and alcohol. Also, come out and support the Above the Influence students on May 4th; at the "Telling Their Stories" Art show at Alma College Flora Kirsch Gallery from 5:30 p.m. -7:00 p.m. This is a platform for students to express themselves on what keeps them above negative influences. I hope you are encouraged by all the positive action our youth are taking to make a difference within the community. This is an exciting time for students and I am proud of the energy and initiative I see them exhibiting for our common cause- to help keep our youth above the influence. |
Michigan Chapter of the National Children's Alliance By: Heather Gardner CAC Coordinator In April, many members of the Children's Advocacy Center of Gratiot County Multidisciplinary Team attended the 5th annual Michigan Chapter of the National Children's Alliance MDT-CAC Conference. Attendees included members from; Gratiot County Department of Health and Human Services, Gratiot County Community Mental Health, St. Louis Police Department and Child Advocacy. This was a wonderful conference that provided the opportunity for CAC's and their MDT's to network with one another on the state level. There were excellent workshops and presentations that included topics such as; internet safety, child sex trade in America, forensic interviewing, emergency medical examinations, MDT cooperation, sex offenders and how to manage stress in the work we do. The keynote address was presented by Marilyn Van Derbur, former Miss America. She shared her story of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of her father and her work in brining awareness to child abuse. We look forward to sharing all the information we learned! 
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Scheduled Classes
Foster/Adoptive/Relative Care Support Group
Tuesday, May 12
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Youth for Christ - Alma
Please call our office with questions about any of the above classes/workshops at (989) 463-1422.
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Happy Spring!
Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter! As you can see we have so many exciting things happening here at Child Advocacy. We hope you will stop over at Alma College to see the art work that is on display throughout the month of May. Students from local high schools have been putting their ideas, feelings, and attitudes, about how to live above negative influences, down on canvases. The paintings are beautiful, compelling, and thought provoking! We also have artwork that has been created by children in foster care, who participate in our CASA program. The foster children have created artwork to express their thoughts, feelings, and emotions. The paintings they have created are profound, and will give you an insight into their lives.
You won't want to miss our Superhero 5K! We have something for all members of the family including; a Toddler Trot, 1 Mile Fun Run, 5K Walk, and 5K Run. All proceeds from the event will go towards child abuse and neglect prevention in Gratiot County.
As mentioned above we are also hosting our annual banquet on Thursday, May 14th at noon. Please join us as we celebrate another year of advocating for children in Gratiot County and all of the people who work to improve the lives of children and their families.
We look forward to spending time with you in May!
Sincerely,
Audra Stahl
Executive Director |
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