Gratiot County Child Advocacy Association

Child abuse and neglect prevention - programs include 24:7 dad parenting program to offer support and education to dads; training and assistance to youth-serving organizations to develop a code of conduct; homeschool resources; make parenting a pleasure programs for parents or caregivers looking for extra support in areas such as understanding and handling stress, managing anger, communication skills, discipline, and handling challenging behaviors; mandated reporter training sessions; safer, smarter kids which follows a developmentally appropriate sequence of instruction for elementary school students, helping children develop skills to stay safe as their world expands; safer, smarter teens which is a series of lessons for middle and high school students taught in the schools to teach the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships, how to create safe boundaries, consent, sexual harrassment, sexual abuse prevention. And how to reach out for help in unsafe situations; stewards of children training that teaches adults hwo to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.

Children's advocacy center (cac) - forensic interviews are provided to children, adolescents, and vulnerable adults who are suspected victims of sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, may be drug-endangered, or who witness a violent crime; provides on-site trauma informed therapy as well as referrals to local mental health providers for conseling when appropriate; offers a monthly family support group for caregivers of children who have visited the cac for services; specialized medical evaluations and treatment; art therapy programming for chidlren and adolescents; victim advocacy and family support programs.

Court appointed special advocates (casa) - trains volunteers through specialized training on how to advocate for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse and/or neglect.