Child Abuse Reporting (24/7)
Statewide 1-855-444-3911
Heirloom Birth Certificate
You can celebrate a newborn or memorialize an ancestor with an Heirloom Birth Certificate issued by the State of Michigan. These certificates are signed by the Governor. The certificates contain calligraphy style printing, are printed over artwork, and are suitable for framing and preserving as family heirlooms, but not intended as legal proof of birth. The commemorative certificates are mailed encased in cardboard shields to ensure protection.
Visit
Michigan Heirloom Birth Certificates website.
Local Festivals Take the family on a field trip and explore the history,
businesses and people of our county! These festivals offer craft shows, car shows, hot air balloon launch, children's health fairs, carnival rides,
parades, food and more!
Sheridan Springfest Memorial Day Weekend
Carson City Frontier Days 1st Weekend in June
Lakeview Summerfest 3rd Week in June
MCC Heritage Village Festival
1st Weekend in August
Stanton Old Fashioned Days 2nd Weekend in August
Greenville Danish Festival 3rd Weekend in August
Trufant Jubilee Labor Day Weekend
Supporters Carson City Lions Club
Greenville Lions Club
Baker Rader Insurance Agency
Rough Riders Motorcycle Club
First Congregational Church of Sheridan
First Congregational Church of Stanton (Women’s Fellowship)
Vickeryville United Methodist Church (Women’s Fellowship)
Medication Disposal
Medication Disposal
Program
Safely dispose of unwanted medications today!
Did you know that disposing of medications in the trash or flushing them down the toilet is unsafe
for the environment and the public? Proper disposal of medications helps prevent childhood
poisonings, reduce substance abuse and protect the water. If you have medications that have
expired, are no longer needed, can’t be identified, or changed color, smell, or taste bad,
dispose of them at one of the following locations:
Medication Drop Box Locations
Call for hours of operation or more information.
Sorry, no sharps.
Montcalm County Sheriff
659 N. State St.
989-831-7590
Carson City Police Dept.
123 E. Main St.
989-584-6448
Howard City Police Dept.
125 Shaw St.
231-937-4311
Lakeview Police Dept.
315 S. Lincoln St.
989-352-6211
Greenville Public Safety
415 S. Lafayette St.
616-754-7101
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Community Education

WCFK Executive Director, Mary Ellen Clery, in one of the MAISD elementary
schools. The Protect Yourself Child Abuse Prevention program is being taught to
all 1st and third graders in Montcalm county.
BUILDING A STRONGER COMMUNITY
FEATURING:
Ruth Rondon, Katie Donovan, Esther Combs
Saturday, April 13 th
Greenville High School, 9am-12pm
(doors open @ 8:15)
Ruth Rondon ;
After falling prey to traffickers as a teenager Ruth became a hardcore drug
addict. For 18 years she lived on the streets and lived just beyond the reach of
anyone who cared for her, including family. After escaping trafficking and
breaking drug addiction, at age 33, she discovered the power she held inside and
vowed to be a victim no more. She worked as a clerk for 27 years and retired in
2015. Shortly after retiring she was governor appointed to serve on the Michigan
Human Trafficking Health Advisory Board. Her term expires in December of 2020.
Katie Donovan ;
After experiencing the addiction journey with her daughter Brittany, Katie left
her marketing career to focus on family recovery. She has dedicated her life to
guiding others through the overwhelming process of finding quality treatment for
substance abuse, coaching families through their own recovery, and as a
consultant for the treatment industry. Katie is the Executive Vice President of
FAN, and a national speaker on addiction. Further, she is a certified family
recovery coach and addictions recovery coach. Check out her blog:
www.amothersaddictionjourney.com
Esther Combs ;
Serves on the Executive Board of the Montcalm County Trauma team – Trauma
Champions, works at the Montcalm Area Intermediate School District in the roles
of Building Trauma Informed Communities and Homeless Services Coordinator. She
is also President of Alternative Counseling Services in Stanton. When talking
about trauma it is also important to speak about Resiliency; the skills we do
have; and attitudes of Optimism and Hope.
3 DYNAMIC PRESENTATIONS ABOUT TRAUMA, ACE’s, ADDICTION & RECOVERY.
*Free Narcan Kits following the Symposium Distributed by Montcalm Care
Network.*
3 MCBAP CEU’s offered
THERE IS NO CHARGE TO ATTEND THIS SEMINAR.
(Morning
snacks provided).
All costs are being covered by local businesses, and the Mid-State Health
Network office.
SPONSORS:
We are a
collaboration of organizations and individuals supporting Prevention, Treatment
and Recovery for overall Health and Well-Being. A special thanks to WGLM-M106.3
promotions, Relevant Recovery for the food, Greenville Schools for hosting, the
multiple service agencies, and you for participating.
TO REGISTER
or FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact John Kroneck
at:
johnkroneck@cherryhealth.com or 989-831-4591
(Registrations appreciated).
Please provide name(s), email address and phone number.
Foster Families Needed

Would you consider becoming a foster parent? Montcalm DHS is always looking to recruit new prospective foster families and have found this to be quite a struggle in rural communities often hit hard by economic downturn.
Montcalm DHS is looking for homes in Montcalm and Ionia Counties so that our most vulnerable children (foster children) might remain in their schools, with their friends, and everything else that is comfortable to them.
If you are interested, contact:
Kristina Syjud- Montcalm County Children’s Foster Home Licensor
Phone: (989) 304-0882
Email: syjudk1@michigan.gov
Sarah Gorby – Ionia County Children’s Foster Home Licensor
Phone: (616) 902-9909
Email: gorbys@michigan.gov
Safe Sleep, do you know our facts?
Safe Sleep, do you know our facts? A sleep‐related infant
death is the death of an otherwise healthy infant with no obvious trauma or
disease process present, birth to one year of age, where elements of an unsafe
sleeping environment were present. This encompasses infant deaths classified
as SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), ASSB (Accidental Suffocation and
Strangulation in Bed) and Undetermined. An unsafe sleep environment includes
soft bedding, articles in the crib or bed, infant sleeping in an adult bed or
on other sleep surfaces such as a couch or chair, infant sleeping with another
adult or child, and infant sleeping in a non‐supine position (i.e. on the
stomach or side). (1) Montcalm County Statistics There were 8
sleep‐related infant deaths in Montcalm County from 2010‐2014. Our county is
ranked 6th highest in the state for sleep‐related infant deaths and has a
death rate that is nearly double that of the overall Michigan rate.
Approximately: 75% of infants who died of sleep‐related causes were placed in
an adult bed. 25% of infants who died of sleep‐related causes were placed to
sleep in a crib, bassinet or portable crib. 50% of sleep‐related deaths
occurred among infants who shared a sleep surface. 57% of infants who died of
sleep‐related causes were found on their stomach and 14% were found on their
side. 9 in 10 infants died before the age of 4 months 1 in 4 infants was
born preterm (less than 37 weeks) 38% of mothers of infants who died of
sleep‐related causes in Montcalm County smoked during pregnancy compared to
18% of all Michigan mothers.
Michigan Statistics Since 2010, 712
babies have died due to sleep‐related deaths1. In 2014, 152 infants died due to
sleep‐related deaths1. Sleep‐related infant death is a leading cause of death
among infants less than 1 year1. Nearly 50% of infants who died of
sleep‐related causes were found on their stomach and 15% were found on their
side1. Based on the sleep‐related infant deaths that were reviewed in 2014,
nearly 50% of infants that died were in an adult bed, 20% were place on a
couch, chair, or floor and 10% were placed in other unsafe sleep locations1.
Of the sleep‐related infant deaths that were reviewed in 2014, approximately 60%
of the infants that died involved suffocation hazards present in the sleep
environment, such as blankets (84%), pillows (25%), bumper pads (15%) and
stuffed toys (5%). In some cases, more than one of these items was present in
the infant’s sleep environment at the time of death. (1) 1 Michigan SUID Case
Registry. Contact Lindsay Gross 517‐324‐7340 for more information. Myths &
Facts MYTH: Cribs cause “crib death.” FACT: Cribs don’t cause “crib
death.” “Crib death” is an old term that was used when the deaths of babies
were not well understood. Now, from research, autopsies, death scene
investigations and more, we know better. Cribs save lives. MYTH: Babies
will choke if they spit up while lying on their backs. FACT: This is not true
– babies are actually safer on their backs. When a baby is on his or her back,
the airway (trachea) is on top of the esophagus (the tube that carries food).
If a baby spits up while on his or her back, the food and fluid run back into
the stomach and not to the lungs. When a baby is on his or her stomach, the
esophagus (or food tube) is on top of the trachea and any food or fluid that is
regurgitated or refluxed can more easily pool at the opening of the trachea,
making it possible for the baby to aspirate or choke. When babies sleep on
their backs, their airways are more protected. MYTH: Babies have slept on
their stomachs for generations and they survived. FACT: Many babies have
slept on their stomachs and survived, but that doesn’t mean that was the
safest way for them to sleep. For reasons that doctors are still trying to
understand, some babies who sleep on their stomachs become unable to take a
breath when needed. This can cause them to suffocate because of their
inability to change position and take a breath. It is also possible that stomach
sleeping can increase an infant’s risk of “rebreathing” his or her own
exhaled air, especially if the infant is in an environment with soft bedding
near the face. As baby breathes the exhaled air, the oxygen level in the body
can drop, carbon dioxide can accumulate and the baby can experience a lack of
oxygen. Babies are safest sleeping on their back for every sleep – at nap
time and at night time. MYTH: Baby will get cold with no blankets and will be
uncomfortable on a firm surface. FACT: Babies should be dressed in as much or
as little clothing as an adult would need. If you are worried that your baby
may be cold, use a footed sleeper or a sleep sack. Babies don’t need blankets,
pillows, comforters or stuffed animals, to feel comfortable. These items tend to
get in babies way and can cause suffocation if baby becomes entangled in
them. If parents still want these items for baby’s nursery, stuffed animals
can be decoration on a shelf, quilts can be hung on the wall and blankets can
be used on the floor for supervised “tummy time.” Keep soft objects, loose
bedding, pillows and bumper pads out of the crib. MYTH: Babies will get
lonely in the crib. FACT: It is possible to bond and develop strong
attachments during “awake” time with baby. Cuddling, holding while feeding,
making eye contact, and talking with baby are all ways to develop strong
attachments. When baby goes to bed, those feelings don’t go away. If baby cries
while in the crib, soothe baby and then lay him or her back to sleep in the
crib. Baby will feel comfort and will develop ways to self‐soothe and calm on
his or her own, which is a critical skill. There are many techniques that
parents can use to help when baby is crying. Resources such as the “Period of
Purple Crying,” advice from a doctor, nurse or other health provider, and
others are available to help teach parents skills to soothe baby. The safest
place for baby after soothing is on his or her back in the crib. MYTH: Baby
is safe sleeping in an adult bed. FACT: Unfortunately, baby is in danger
sleeping in an adult bed, or on couches, armchairs or cushions. An adult can
roll over on baby or another person’s arm may cover baby’s head or neck,
smothering the baby, making it impossible for the baby to breathe. Also, baby
can roll or move on her own and end up in a dangerous place such as stuck
between the mattress and the headboard or between the bed and the wall or
pressed up against a sofa cushion or other loose bedding. Many parents think
that they will hear the baby and wake if this happens, but tragically, this
isn’t often the case. Many parents also think that bed‐sharing is only risky
if they have been drinking or taking drugs. Doing those behaviors does
increase the risk, but bed‐sharing is dangerous even if the parent is not
impaired. Babies sleep safest when sleeping in their own crib, bassinet or
portable play yard – parents will sleep more soundly too! MYTH:
Breastfeeding can only be done successfully when the mother bed‐shares with her
infant. FACT: This is not true. Breastfeeding does provide the best nutrition
for baby, builds the immune system and promotes bonding, as well as many
other health benefits. But breastfeeding can make mother sleepy, so it needs
to be done outside of the bed, in a chair, for example, and baby needs to be
placed back in the crib once feeding is finished. Some mothers have found it
helpful to set a timer or alarm to help wake them after feeding. Partners are
also helpful in returning baby to the crib when feeding is done.
Breastfeeding is encouraged and can be done safely. Sources: 1.
http://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7‐339‐71548_57836‐391909‐‐,00.html
2. Sleep‐Related Infant Deaths in Montcalm County. Fact Sheet May 2016. Provided
by the Michigan Public Health Institute.
OK2SAY Campaign Launch
The Montcalm County Sheriff's Office reports the launch of OK2SAY, a new
hotline and student safety initiative available to Michigan students
beginning in the 2014-2015 academic year. OK2SAY enables
sutdents to confidentially report potential harm or criminal
activities aimed at students, teachers, staff or other school
employees. The program will operate as an early warning system
in our schools to thwart tragedies before they occur. Created
as a result of the Student Safety Act (183 PA 2013), OK2SAY's focus
is on early intervention and prevention. For
more informaton on OK2SAY, please click here.
State of Michigan Child Protection Registry Want to protect your family from unwanted adult advertising?
The State of Michigan offers a free program to stop adult advertisements from
reaching e-mails and mobile phones (text messaging). The Michigan Child
Protection Registry, created by the Michigan State Legislature in 2004, allows
Michigan schools and families to protect their students from receiving
adult-oriented messages. Registered addresses and numbers are protected from
messages that advertise pornography, tobacco, illegal drugs, alcohol and
gambling.
For more information and/or to sign-up please visit
www.protectmichild.com.
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