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for your business.

Dear Friends:

Welcome to the beginning of summer in northern Michigan! I write on a 90-degree day in mid-June, and as I recall, this time last year it was 50 degrees out and I had the heat on. Traffic is already crazy and it seems we are off to a fast, warm start (but slower if you are trying to get anywhere).

And it occurred to me that there is a real gift in taking things slower, going with the flow of more traffic and more people on leisure time. For those of us who are lucky enough to be here year-round, maybe it’s just what we need to enjoy it all a little more, to remind ourselves how amazing it is to live where everyone else wants to vacation.

In summer at CFS we look inward as we encourage people to take their well-deserved time off. We do repairs and maintenance to our buildings to keep them safe and welcoming for everyone. The flowers are blooming, fresh mulch put down, lawn and playground cared for. We take this time to update systems, clean out closets and storage spaces, check in with each other. We’re looking at job descriptions, strategic planning. And we are hiring (please send all your great friends and acquaintances with people skills our way)!



The work itself continues to be fast-paced and busy, but we can still slow ourselves down these sultry summer days. Give yourself and the people you love the luxury of paying attention and enjoying all the pleasures of time outside together in this spectacular place on earth. See you out there!

Warmly,

Gina Aranki, Executive Director

Did you know June is PTSD Awareness Month? Reining Liberty Ranch, a tranquil spot just outside of Traverse City, is a wonderful resource that provides community-based services for veterans and youth receiving wraparound services. Many of these individuals have experienced trauma and are working through PTSD.

On a sunny Friday afternoon, Executive Director Becki Bigelow provided insights into the therapeutic benefits of the ranch. As she gave us a tour, she pointed out how each facet of the ranch has been designed to benefit those it serves. Reining Liberty is home to a beautiful herd of horses who have gone through at least a year of specialized training to equip them for therapeutic work with veterans and youth. The instructors have also received vigorous training to work with the populations served. Becki explained that horses are well-suited to help regulate emotions because of their nonverbal cues. They mirror the emotions of those around them and can help people relax and be in the moment.

There are several riding trails at the ranch designed with therapeutic benefits in mind. One of the trails is built on a downward slope, which is beneficial for those with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) because it helps their balance and core strength. Trail riding also helps build the emotional strength of the rider through recognizing the horse's cues, which translates into their increased ability to recognize their own cues and those of others.

In addition to the horses, Reining Liberty has donkeys, ponies, goats, and chickens. The goats are playful and have been trained to work with those visiting the ranch. They enjoy playing with the children who visit and provide them with an outlet to release their energy. Junior the goat is an excellent example of this. He likes having his head pushed on and then will buck backwards with joy. The chickens provide the youth with opportunities to learn from them while they care for them.

The animals on the ranch aren’t the only ones providing therapeutic value. There is a peaceful native plant garden where individuals can relax under a pergola and listen to the sounds of the birds and pond. The plants in this garden were also selected specifically for their aroma therapy benefits as well. There are also beehives on the ranch that keep these plants pollinated and provide honey.

While all the different parts of the farm provide therapeutic benefits, the relationships built are the highlight. Reining Liberty Ranch has the unique ability to bring veterans and young people together. Becki explained that the veterans take on mentorship roles with the youth in the program. Their presence helps the kids feel safe. The kids can open up with the veterans in ways that they don’t always do with others. The youth can have conversations about what they are going through, and the veterans can relate because they have experienced traumas as well. While there is no cure for PTSD, places like Reining Liberty Ranch make living with it easier.

In 2014, a group of 2SLGBTQIA+ community members gathered at the Little Fleet in Traverse City to discuss the need to represent and celebrate their community. Out of this came the first Visibility March on the sidewalks of downtown TC, with a small gathering afterwards. Fast forward 10 years, and now Traverse City celebrates the largest participant-driven LGBTQ+ Pride March in the state! June is Pride Month, with a long list of activities celebrating people in all their uniqueness, with events ranging from a Pit Spitters game to kickball, paddling at Empire beach, and a fun run (see upnorthpride.com for more info).

This year, CFS (the first, and for a time, the only, foster care and adoption agency in the area to support all kinds of family structures) helped celebrate the LGBTQ+ community by having a table at the Pride Carnival. There we made friends and contacts and let people know about the many resources we have, and the need for foster, adoptive, and host homes. We proudly support all efforts to make northern Michigan a more inclusive, supportive, and safe space for everyone. We celebrate June as Pride Month, 2024!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Northern Angler for hosting the 7th annual Cheese Cup Fly Fishing Tournament this month. This event raised significant funds for suicide awareness, prevention trainings, and counseling services at CFS, making a profound impact on mental health support in our community.

This warm water catch-and-release fishing competition combines fun with fundraising for an important cause. The tragic loss of their dear friend and co-worker Alex "Cheese" Hawke to depression motivated Northern Angler Owner, Brian Pitser, and Manager, Matt Hartman to organize this event in his honor. Their goal is to encourage open dialogue around suicide and mental health and collective healing.

Thank you to everyone who participated, donated, sponsored, and assisted!

With sincere appreciation we want to thank Traverse City Horse Shows for selecting Child and Family Services as the charity ticket partner for the weekend of June 22nd. We deeply appreciate your support and generosity.



Special thanks to CFS Board Member Patrick Lavis and Adam Brown for their matching donation.

We are thrilled to announce that Safe Haven North will open its doors in July! This safe child exchange and supervised visit program is meant to serve families affected by domestic violence in Emmet, Charlevoix, and Cheboygan counties and beyond. It will open up many more time slots for families and greatly reduce drive time for our northernmost clients. This new initiative is an expansion of our Traverse City Safe Haven program, which has been going strong for 20 years now. 

A huge thanks to all of our community funders who have provided financial support for Safe Haven North, as well as the federal Office on Violence Against Women, which provided the foundational grant. 

Community donors include: Hestia Women's Giving Circle, Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation, Charlevoix County Community Foundation, Charlevoix County Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council, and Zonta Club of Petoskey.

Planned giving to Child and Family Services is an extraordinary way to ensure that your legacy reflects a deep commitment to the well-being and future of children and families in need. By incorporating charitable contributions into your financial or estate planning, you can provide enduring support to programs that offer essential services, such as counseling, adoption, foster care, and family preservation. Whether you choose to make a bequest in your will, establish a charitable trust, create a gift annuity, or designate Child and Family Services as a beneficiary of your retirement account or life insurance policy, your generosity will have a lasting impact. Planned giving not only benefits you through potential tax advantages but also empowers Child and Family Services to continue its vital work, fostering safe, healthy, and nurturing environments for children and families. Consider planned giving as a profound way to make a difference, knowing that your support will help create brighter futures and stronger communities for generations to come.

Licensed respite providers needed! Join us virtually to learn more about this short-term foster care option. Our licensing staff will explain the process of becoming a respite caregiver and answer any questions you may have. The process is easier than you think. Consider helping today!

Virtual Respite Care Information Session Monday, July 8th at 6pm

Click to learn more and register.

Family Street Fair

July 20th 10am to 2pm

Join us at the Parenting Communities Family Street Fair located at the Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy! Our staff will be there from 10am to 2pm. Come visit our table where we will have fun giveaways and information about our services. Stop by and see us!

AuSable River Festival Kids Day

July 23rd 10am to 2pm



Join us at the AuSable River Festival Kids Day located at Grayling City Park! Our staff will be hosting a booth with fun and games for the kids. At our booth we will also have fun giveaways and information about our services. Stop by and see us!

Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan

3785 Veterans Drive, Traverse City | (231) 946-8975

3434 M-119, Ste F, Harbor Springs | (231) 347-4463

  cfs@cfs3L.org   |  www.cfsnwmi.org