CA with tag line 

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


"And yet, parenting teens 
is so often about
having the good judgement to 
 withhold one's better judgement."

- Robert Brault - 
In This Issue
Upcoming Events
100 Women Who Care Donation
CASA Dates to Remember
Parenting Class Information
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
  
Steve Benn
Detective/Sgt.
MI State Police

Wendy Currie 
Mid MI District Health Dept

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

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
 
Steve Vernon
 Gratiot Co. Comm. Mental Health 

Joe Yourchock
Community Representative
 

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


 

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.

Your Feedback!
Author Margaret Mead wrote, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed it's the only thing that ever has." 
In our experience, the Children's Advocacy Center of Gratiot County is the personification of what Ms. Mead was writing about.

Gratiot County Children's Protective Services Staff 

Quick Links

 
Join Our Mailing List

 

 

Goodbye summer, hello autumn!

 

Interested in participating in a parenting class?  This month we offer an article about the classes we offer.  CASA shares some important dates that are important to the program.  Please take a moment to learn more.

 

Enjoy,

Child Advocacy Staff

 

Check out our website www.linkforfamilies.org.

Upcoming Events
 
Mom2Mom Sale
Saturday, October 24
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Donald L. Pavlick Middle School and Youth for Christ - Alma
 
CASA Trivia Night
Friday, November 20
Click here for more information and a registration form
Alma Elks 

100 Women Who Care - Gratiot County donates money for Suicide Prevention in Gratiot County!

In September at the quarterly meeting of 100 Women Who Care-Gratiot County, the group donated $4000 to Child Advocacy for suicide prevention programs in Gratiot County!  

Executive Director, Audra Stahl, was at the quarterly meeting and was pleasantly surprised when 100 Women Who Care member, Debbie Crumbaugh stood up and spoke about the importance of suicide prevention in our county.  Debbie shared statistics, youth survey data, and a personal story of how suicide has touched her life.  The women then voted to give the donation to Child Advocacy's program, the Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition (GCSAC).  

The Substance Abuse Coalition also works to prevent suicide in the county, along with substance abuse.  The number of attempted and completed suicides has gone up in Gratiot County and has been identified by the Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition as a serious problem in our community.  At this time GCSAC, in partnership with Gratiot Community Mental Health,  offers a FREE suicide prevention training for local businesses, schools, clubs, organizations, churches, groups, and agencies.  If you would like the free 1 hour training to be provided for your group please contact Ty at (989) 463-1422.  This training can be done over the lunch hour, evenings, or during your meetings. 
 
Dates to Remember
 by: Michelle Zombeck
 
Do you like knowing more about resources in the community?  Are you passionate about children?  Do you want to know more about Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)?  Please join us Thursday, October 15th from 11:45-1:00 for our Lunch and Learn at the Alma Public Library to educate the public on how CASA is speaking up for the children in Gratiot County.  Please contact Michelle at Child Advocacy to reserve your seat by Friday October 9th at (989) 463-1422 or michelle@linkforfamilies.org
 
Friday, November 20th, a date to remember!!  CASA of Gratiot County is hosting its 3rd Annual Trivia Night fundraiser.  Trivia Night is a fun event, in which teams compete in friendly competition and answer questions about sports, geography, music, history and pop culture.  We will have a silent auction, raffle and drawings throughout the night.  The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and trivia play starts 7:30 p.m.  The event will take place at the Elks Lodge in Alma.  Please contact Child Advocacy for more information at (989) 463-1422 or michelle@linkforfamilies.org.  
Parenting Class Information
by Pam Mahin
Parenting Class Coordinator


With the beginning of our fiscal, becomes the start of our many classes that we offer.  I have included information about our three parenting classes as well as the Foster/Adoptive/Relative Care Provider support group. 

The ACT program, a parenting class aimed at reducing the violence in our homes and our children's lives is geared for parents of children 0-8 years old.  This class will be offered beginning October 12th and is offered at least 4 times throughout the year.  

Dr. Bavolek's Nurturing Parenting Program for Parents of Children 5-11 years old is a 10 week class that is currently meeting on Thursdays. We started on September 17th and will continue each week through November 19th. We will offer this class again in the Spring. 

Surviving Your Adolescents is a parenting class for parents with teenagers.  This class is offered at least two times per year.

Also, our monthly support group for Foster/Adoptive/Relative care providers will continue to meet on the second Tuesday of each month.  Professional training will be offered each month as well as mutual support. 

If you have any questions about these classes, please contact us.

Scheduled Classes

 

Foster/Adoptive/Relative Care Support Group
Tuesday, October 13
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 
Guest Speaker - Kim Seidel
Central Michigan Youth for Christ - Alma

ACT Parenting Class for parents of children 0-8 years old
Starts Monday, October 12 
Will meet Monday and Wednesday's for three weeks
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Wilcox Non-Profit Center - Alma

Please call our office at (989) 463-1422 to register for the class.
Happy October!

I hope the back to school transition went smoothly for all of you and your families.  The Above the Influence program is back in full swing in our local high schools.  Our participation numbers have greatly increased in each of our high schools this year, and I credit that to Ty and his wonderful ability to engage students in activities and events.  Above the Influence is a national campaign that encourages students to live above negative influences including; drugs, alcohol, tobacco, bullying, etc.  If your student is involved in this program please praise and encourage them for not only choosing to live Above the Influence, but for also having the courage to share the messaging with their peers.

The Protect Yourself Program is our other school program that will be starting back up this month.  Richelle Davis will be teaching every 1st and 3rd grader in Gratiot County the Protect Yourself Program this school year.  Last year Mrs. Davis taught these important safety lessons to 893 students.  The Protect Yourself Program is a series of five safety lessons that teaches children how to recognize and respond to abduction and abusive situations.  If you have a student in 1st or 3rd grade be sure to keep your eye out for the parent notes that your student will bring home while they are receiving the program.  We encourage parents to use that time to speak with their children about this important topic and the importance of telling an adult when abuse is occurring.

We hope to see all of you at our 3rd annual Trivia Night to benefit the CASA program.  It promises to be a great night of fun and excitement!


Sincerely,
Audra Stahl
Executive Director