CA with tag line 

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

 "It is not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them 
to do for themselves, that will make them successful human beings."

- Ann Landers -
In This Issue
Upcoming Events
Leaving your Child Home Alone
Princess & Pirates
Royal Fundraiser
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
 
Michelle Zombeck 
 CASA Coordinator
 
Heather Gardner  
 CAC Coordinator 

Heather Therrien  
CAC Case Coordinator
 
Staci Bigelow
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

Sara Bonacci
Sara Bonacci Photography

Wendy Currie 
Mid MI District Health Dept

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

Tammy Halfmann
Mercantile Bank

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
 
Breckenridge Police Dept.
 104 E. Saginaw 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 and patches.
Your Feedback!
"The fact that you treated my kids like they mattered.  The Center was inviting and warm."
Parent of a child working with the Children's Advocacy Center of Gratiot County 

Quick Links

 
Join Our Mailing List
 
 
This month the Children's Advocacy Center will be hosting a Royal Fundraiser! Please join us for a princess and pirate themed party to help support the Children's Advocacy Center of Gratiot County.  All proceeds will benefit this program that provides forensic interviews and advocacy to victims of child abuse and neglect in Gratiot County.   
 
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Child Advocacy will be hosting our Annual Alumni Basketball Game on April 8,2016 and our Superhero 5K May 7,2016. Keep watching for information on these events. Lots of fun to come!

Enjoy,
Child Advocacy Staff
Check out our website www.linkforfamilies.org.
Upcoming Events 
 

Heart & Sole 5K Run/Walk
Saturday, February 6 at 9:00 a.m.
His Place - Alma
Half of the proceeds will be donated to Child Advocacy.


Princess & Pirate Party
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Youth for Christ - Alma
All proceeds to benefit the Children's Advocacy Center of Gratiot County. 


Charity Basketball Game
Alma High School Alumni vs. Ithaca High School Alumni
Friday, April 8 at 7:00 p.m
Alma High School Gymnasium
Proceeds to benefit Child Abuse and Neglect programs
of Gratiot County. 


Child Advocacy Superhero 5K
Please mark your calendar for our annual 5K race! 
Saturday, May 7 at 9:00 a.m.
Alma Armory, 710 N. State St.

Online registration is now available at runsignup.com 


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! 
Wednesday, May 18
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Central Michigan Youth for Christ - Alma

Please call the Child Advocacy office at (989) 463-1422 to purchase tickets in advance.
Leaving Your Child Home Alone
By: Richelle Davis
Prevention Educator 
 
All parents come to a point when they begin to leave their children home alone. Whether it is a snow day, after school, or just while they run out to do errands, children are inevitably left at home alone. This can be a big and scary step for parents and children alike. With proper training, both parents and children can feel comfortable when that time comes.

In Protect Yourself, we discuss what are some of the ways to stay safe when students are left alone. Some of the areas we discuss are:

* Never open the door to anyone. Not a deliveryman, a repairman, or a neighbor.

* Be sure to post emergency numbers by the phone (parent's work and cell phone numbers, neighbors, 911, relatives).

* Don't tell anyone they are home alone.

* Set clear rules about: going outside, having friends over, and activities that are permitted.

Begin by leaving your children for short periods at a time and build up from there. Give them different scenarios and discuss how they should handle them. The more prepared we make our children, the more comfortable we all can be in taking this step.
 Princess and Pirates
By: Heather Therrien
CAC Case Coordinator

Since opening our doors in 2013, support for the Children's Advocacy Center of Gratiot County (CAC) has been remarkable. One example of this was community participation in the inaugural Princess and Pirates Party Fundraiser. Last year, hundreds of princesses and pirates (both big and small) from all over Gratiot County took an afternoon break from the long Michigan winter to get a temporary tattoo, dance with Cinderella, fill a booty bag full of yummy treasures and "walk the plank."

Touted by party-goers as the "next best thing to Disney World," the Princess and Pirates Party is once again right around the corner - Sunday, February 14 from 3:00-4:30 p.m. at the YFC Building in Alma. The party is centered on real, live princesses and pirates - courtesy of DuHadway Dance Dimensions - performing and signing autographs. The most popular events from last year - pirate games, craft stations (cookies, autograph books and booty bags), the princess hair salon and the tattoo parlor - will be featured again this year along with many more activities.

In addition to being the most exciting February event in mid-Michigan, Princess and Pirates raises funds to support the CAC. Every ticket sold, activity station sponsored and extra dollar donated supports our effort to provide a safe, welcoming place for children to tell their story. Advance tickets are available at Child Advocacy. Facebook users please  click here for our event page.
 
Princess & Pirate Party
 
Sunday, February 14, 2016
3:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Youth for Christ ~ 2550 W. Cheesman Road ~ Alma
 
Photo Opportunities with Princesses and Pirates
Games * Crafts * Snacks * Tattoo Parlor
Performances * Autographs   
 
$10 a Ticket / $15 at the Door 
Kings, Queens, Captains, and Mermaids are all welcome! 
Pirate and Princess attire encouraged but not required.

To purchase tickets: call Child Advocacy at 989-463-1422
Scheduled Classes
 
Foster/Adoptive/Relative Care Support Group
Tuesday, February 9
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 
Central Michigan Youth for Christ - Alma

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

CASA(Court Appointed Special Advocate)
Training
Starts Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Contact Michelle Zombeck at Michelle@linkforfamilies.org or at (989) 463-1422 for more information.
 
Please call our office with questions about any of the above classes/workshops at (989) 463-1422.
Spring is right around the corner and we are BUSY planning all of our fun activities and fundraisers!!  I hope to see you at the Princess and Pirates party this month!!

If you would like to learn more about Child Advocacy, our programs, or our staff please don't hesitate to call us for a tour.  We are also available for speaking engagements, training's, and we LOVE to collaborate on special events and projects.  You can also visit us on the web at or at our Instagram or Facebook page at Child Advocacy-Gratiot County.

Have a wonderful Valentines Day!

Sincerely,
Audra Stahl
Executive Director