The Children Trust Michigan’s Board of Directors has approved $1,602,012 for six Michigan community-based organizations to support local child abuse prevention initiatives.

The Direct Services grants will be funded over a four-year period. Winning grant proposals were selected through a competitive bid process.

“We are strongly committed to keeping kids safe,” said Elizabeth Hertel, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services director. “Children Trust Michigan provides valuable funding to organizations in communities across Michigan so that they can put in place effective child abuse prevention programs. Children Trust Michigan prevention efforts are a key part of MDHHS’s Keep Kids Safe Action Agenda.”

Children Trust Michigan is housed within MDHHS.

“We congratulate the six successful grantees that emerged from an extremely competitive process with many more excellent proposals than we were able to fund,” said Suzanne Greenberg, Children Trust Michigan executive director. “We will work closely with our new grantees to build protective factors for children and families that will make safe, healthy and happy childhoods possible for Michigan’s children.”

The six organizations receiving funding are:

• Arbor Circle in Grand Rapids, $320,000 for its Nurturing Fathers program with a trusted messenger approach.
• Bethany Christian Services of Michigan in Grand Rapids, $124,932 for its Be Strong Families Parent Cafés to build fathers as leaders in their community.
• Family Services & Children’s Aid in Jackson, $210,000 for Parent Cafés and 24/7 Dad programs to build strong families and strong communities.
• Gratiot County Child Advocacy Association, $307,080 for Parent Cafés and 24/7 Dad programs to connect and engage fathers in the community.
• InvolvedDad of Flint, $320,00 for InvolvedDad & Nurturing Fathers program, preparing fathers to be leaders in their community, workplace and family.
• Keweenaw Family Resource Center, $320,000 for the 24/7 Dad, Parent Cafés and playgroups for fathers, which use multiple approaches to engage fathers.

The purpose of Direct Services grants is to fund community?based child abuse prevention programs and services. The grants support families that experience challenges that could impact positive parenting and optimal child development. Strong emphasis is placed on assuring that funded initiatives are appropriately integrated into broader community plans for serving children and families. 

With the newly funded initiatives, combined with other multi?year grant commitments and the statewide network of local councils, Children Trust Michigan distributed more than $2.6 million in 2023 in support of child abuse prevention programming across the 83 counties in Michigan.

Visit the Michigan Children’s Trust Fund website to learn more.