Battle Creek Counseling Associates

This award is for the Calhoun County foster/Adoptive Parents Support Group, and it provides a forum whereby foster and adoptive parents can share their feelings about the challenges of parenting the children in their care. This support group enables these parents to have a better understanding of the emotional needs of neglected and abused children, and helps the parents help the children to heal from trauma. 
 

Albion Recreation Dept.

The primary target of this organization is at-risk youth between the ages of 5-16, who primarily come from l ow-income single parent homes. This program gives them a safe place to go between the hours of 4-7 pm. This program reduces the number of youth charged with juvenile offenses and will help reinforce positive behavior and making good choices.  
 

The Haven of Rest

This grant provides funding for case management at Inasmuch  House, which is an emergency homeless shelter for women and children. The case management program will enhance and enrick parenting skills through intervention of child abuse and neglect. Parents at Inasmuch House attend parenting classes and learn about alternatives in discipline techniques.  
 

Sexual Assault Services

This will fund the 3^rd Annual “Summer Fun Camp” for kids ages 8-13 who are survivors of sexual abuse. The camp takes place at the Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Recreation Center in Augusta. Children participate in swimming, kayaking, wall climbing, archery, nature hikes and games. The children also participate in therapeutic exercises that help the kids increase self esteem and deal with their feelings about the abuse. 
 

Calhoun County Community Corrections

This program will target an estimated 600 parents who are incarcerated in the Calhoun County jail for failure to pay child support. Considering many of these incarcerated individuals do not have a relationship with their child, the program seeks  to provide information on effective parenting skills, parenting resources, and reduce the financial neglect of the child.  
 

Huron Potawatomie, Inc.

The Positive Parents program will provide twice-monthly classes and home visits to parents of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomie, and will address the social problems resulting from children being emotionally neglected at home. Using traditional Native American teachings, the Positive Parenting program honors traditions that have existed for 40,000 years and will teach parents how to discipline their children without using aggression.