NEWS UPDATES

“The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined

effort of each individual.”

Vince Lombardi

In This Issue

Behavioral Health

Early Learning Community

Substance Abuse Prevention

Residential Program News

Senior Advocate Program

Family Service Alliance

Behavioral Health

Behavioral Health has been busy as usual. We have been focusing on a couple of recent program specialties. The Clinton Township Office has a fairly large program dedicated to addressing Domestic Violence and Anger. We call our program Alternatives to Domestic Aggression. Referrals are received from local district courts, probation officers and Macomb County DHS. Group therapy occurs in the early evening all week long. We have break out groups for males, females and a separate group for clients dealing with inappropriate anger. Individual therapeutic services are also available.

Some therapists have attended specialized training provided by a partnership between Michigan State University and Star Behavioral Training to learn effective ways to support post deployment veterans and their families. MFS offers specialized services to veterans and their families, in treating issues like Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and couples therapy. Services are available for individuals and couples therapy. These services are in high demand. We are pleased to have skilled, talented therapists that offer cutting edge programming.

MACOMB FAMILY SERVICES SPRING 2014

Administrative staff in Sterling Heights

MOVING ! April 18, 2014

Our Sterling Heights Office will be moving to:

43928 Mound Road, Ste 100 Sterling Heights, MI 48314.

Our office will be located on Mound (east side) between Hall Rd. and 19 Mile. There are two buildings that look the

same, we are in the south building.

Providing Hope...Changing Lives

Play & Learn

The ELC has partnered with several community schools and libraries to offer Play & Learn classes throughout the community. Play & Learn is a fun and interactive experience to enhance children’s gross motor, fine motor, and social skill development. Parents and children have fun singing songs, participating in story time, and doing a wide range of arts & crafts. A grandfather stated that since coming to the group he has noticed that his 3-year old granddaughter is more focused on activities and is not just running from place to place. Her attention span is getting longer.

Social Emotional Consultation

In 2012, the ELC began providing social-

emotional consultation to families and childcare

providers with children birth through

kindergarten who are experiencing behavioral,

social, or emotional struggles. Consultants use

researched based methods to support families

and teachers in their homes or child care

centers.

Budding artist

Motor skill development and sensory play … she just thinks

Marijuana Fast Facts

One in six teens become

addicted to Marijuana (NIDA)

Marijuana can cause short term

memory loss and trouble with

problem solving, which can last

days or weeks (www.foothill.edu)

A teen that uses Marijuana is

more likely to report failing

grades (SAMHSA)

Child Development

Child Development workshops are open to parents, foster parents, childcare providers, and teachers; anyone dedicated to learning new ideas and continuing growth in their knowledge of best practices for children. Workshops include a range of topics, Including Kitchen Art Fun, Backyard Science, Learning through Play, Reading to Preschoolers, and many more! Training hours meet licensing requirements for childcare providers.

Early Learning Community

The Early Learning Community (ELC) is pleased to report that it continues to offer several free services for families with young children, teachers, foster parents, and home childcare providers and are geared toward kindergarten readiness.

Substance Abuse Prevention & Counseling

Macomb Family Services offers substance abuse counseling at all of our four outpatient locations. Three of our offices, Romeo, Richmond and Clinton Township, are able to offer outpatient treatment services for uninsured Macomb County residents who have low or no income. Funding from the Macomb County Office of Substance Abuse (MCOSA) also provides support for students in many Macomb County middle and high schools who may be at a high risk for substance use. We have several clinical therapists who go into the schools and meet with the students for up to six times to provide education and help them learn healthy coping skills.

The Substance Abuse Prevention Program offers services to communities, schools, courts, and parents that encourage healthy decision making as it relates to substance abuse issues.

Employment

Interested in joining the team?

The residential program is looking

for direct care workers. To work

with adults with developmental

disabilities. Contact Alisia Fritch at

(586) 226-3440 x258 Monday

through Friday from 8:00am to

4:00pm. Starting pay is $8.40/hour,

with an increase to $8.75/hour once

training is completed. After one

year of employment, you will be

eligible for an increase up to $9.00

an hour, and benefits are included

and there is room for advancement.

Macomb Family Services is a great

place to work and we are always

happy to have someone join the

Macomb Family services family.

Family Service Alliance for Southeastern Michigan The Family Service Alliance for Southeastern Michigan was formed in 2007 with a vision to create a regional response to address the behavioral health and child development challenges confronting families in the tri-county area. Macomb Family Services is one of three agencies that make up the Alliance. Oakland Family Services and Starfish Family Services are also contributing partners.

Alliance Partners are evaluating clients using an assessment tool that captures client vulnerability and stability. Based on measurable outcomes provided from this assessment, potential gaps in services or resources will be identified that are needed for clients to move from crisis towards self-sufficiency. Macomb Family Services has developed working relationships with Michigan Works! and Hope Center in an effort to provide further assistance and advocacy for our clients.

Be Part of the Change

To participate in building a high performing safety net delivering the right services to the right people and creates value for the broader community contact Shaun Taft, System of Care Project Director at

staft@ofsfamily.org.

Residential Program News

Our last residential home is in the final stages of a new lease through the county. Part of this process includes an inspection by both the state and county housing department. We received numerous compliments regarding how nice the home looked and what a great job MFS and our maintenance person has done with maintaining the home. The residential staff at Macomb Family Services works hard at keeping our homes maintained and comfortable.

Going forward the county and MORC (our contract agency), will be looking at each provider of residential services to access how they keep up the maintenance and appearance of the homes as well as completion of maintenance requests. This will impact which agencies receive referrals for placements. MFS and its employees strive to maintain comfortable safe homes for our consumers.

Fast Facts Residential Serves 67 Consumers

6 Available rooms for new consumers

Behavioral Health 97% reported that they would

recommend MFS to a friend or family member.

Veterans and their families have access to trained therapists

CARF Accredited

Early Learning Over 80 children in Macomb

County have benefitted from behavior consultation.

96% of participants reported increased knowledge in the importance of play to growth and development.

Senior Advocacy Serves over 75 seniors a year.

CARF Accreditation

In December, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation

Facilities completed their review of our agency and we are pleased

to announce that we were granted a 3 year accreditation effective

until 2017.

“One person caring about

another represents life’s

greatest value.”

-Jim Rohn

We need your help!

Programs rely on the generous support of our

community. To donate:

Macomb Family Services

36975 Utica Rd, Suite 100

Clinton Township, MI

48036

(586) 226-3440 x248

Being There: The Senior Advocate Program

“Lucy” was one of the many seniors enrolled in our Senior Advocate Program. She was with our program for the past 4 years. Her only living relative was a son, who lives in Egypt. Lucy recently passed away after a long struggle with dementia and physical frailty. While she was alive, Macomb Family Services acted as her surrogate family. Through friendly visits,

November 29, 1922-February 23, 2014

Thank You to Our Generous Supporters!

personal shopping, and ensuring all medical benefits were maintained, MFS helped add quality to her last years that would not have been possible without our services. When she died her son was grateful to us for taking care of the mother he loved dearly, but was not able to care for. Pictures of her final interment were sent to him as a lasting memory, along with the few personal items she still possessed. The good we do may not be seen by all, but it is necessary to do for the good of all. Don’t forget our seniors!

ABC Warehouse Henry Ford Music Boosters Little Caesars Starbucks

AMC Joe Guerra Lori Brown Subway

Applebees John & Babette Biernat Lori Woodard Tim Horton's

April Bagley John Vesper Lakeside Auto UNUM

Bar Louies Impact Entertainment Linda Gifford Walmart

Carol Mille Kirsten Gramzow Lisa Eschbach Center Line Early Childhood Center

Cheryl Cameron Kitty Deluxe Boutique Peggy Kenard Childtime Learning Center

Dollar Tree Academy 4 Lil’ Angels Pizza Hut Goodby, Silverstein & Partners

Engine House Armada Elementary Marios Meats Kennedy Early Childhood Center

Fairway Drugs Coldstone Creamery Mary Kay MacDonald Early Childhood Center

Graubner Library Crescentwood Elementary McDonalds Grace Sterling Little People Day Care

Gregg Heeres Duncan Elementary Meijer Grosse Pointe Fraternal Order of Police #102

Home Depot Forest Park Elementary Olive Garden Macomb County Community Mental Health

Hutchison FTS Mound Park Elementary Red Robin Macomb County Office of Substance Abuse

Karl Seidl Night Owl Cleaning Service REMAX Macomb County Prosecutor Office

Iroquois Industries Kroger Community Rewards Ruby Tuesdays Macomb Great Start Collaborative

Jerry Caulkins Rainbow Child Care Center RX Specialties Macomb Intermediate School District

Jets Pizza Romeo Family Dining Shepherds Ford Macomb Oakland Regional Center

Joe & Linda Lucido Lakeland Manor Speedway United Way of Southeastern Michigan