FACT Opens a New Hub for Genesee County Families!
We are excited to announce the opening of FACT's new Hub in Genesee County, located at the lower level of the St. Michael's Convention Center at 609 E. 5th Avenue in Flint. We feature three distinct rooms designed to provide supports and resources to families in our community. Each room was carefully designed to meet the needs of families, caregivers, and service providers.
We want to thank everyone for their valuable input in helping us create this special space for families. We are excited that our hub is open and we invite you to use these rooms for your family gatherings, meetings, and visits. Our spaces are now available for reservations! Call 810-294-0315 or email me to reserve your space. We can’t wait to welcome you!
We are excited to share our updates and look forward to following up with you soon!
Kind regards,
Bridgitt
FAMILY ROOM
Our 'Family Room' is a warm, inviting space with natural light designed to feel like home. This offers families a safe and comfortable environment to gather, connect, and grow. Unlike traditional community spaces, this cozy room embraces a 'family room' vibe, making it perfect for family meet-ups, personal appointments, and even partner organizations holding their gatherings in the space. At FACT, we believe in fostering an atmosphere where families can build on protective factors—strengthening relationships, creating support networks, and promoting resilience. The Family Room is designed to provide families with a safe, welcoming space to nurture connections and build a stronger community.
CHILDREN'S 'PLAY' ROOM
Our 'Children's 'Play' Room' is a purposely designed space where families can create Positive Childhood Experiences during parent visits and other child-focused interactions. This room is open to support supervised visits, social connections, and therapeutic interventions. Enticing reading nooks, imaginative play, puzzles, sensory toys, and arts and crafts. The room is a welcoming place for children of all ages and needs. Guided by community input, every detail was carefully considered—from soothing colors and calming fragrances to soft lighting—ensuring a safe, comfortable, and nurturing environment where families can bond and grow together.
PRODUCTIVITY ROOM
Our 'Productivity Room' is a modern, welcoming and functional space designed for the FACT team to drop in, collaborate, and work efficiently. With video casting capabilities, wireless printing, and an open floor plan, this room allows team members to gather to coordinate family service plans. There are huddle spots for smaller group discussions, fostering teamwork and creativity. A small storage area is also available to keep resources organized and accessible. This space is built to provide the tools and environment the FACT team needs to support families effectively.
We are excited to have you come to our Open House and visit our new Hub! Click below and register you and your staff!
FACT IS GATHERING MOMENTUM THIS FALL!
CAREGIVER DINNER WITH GREAT START FAMILY COALITION
On September 22nd, we hosted another successful Caregiver Dinner at the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library. It was filled with meaningful connections, mentorship, and of course—tacos! This event was a wonderful opportunity for families to come together, share experiences, and build supportive networks. We are grateful for our partnership with Great Start Family Coalition, whose mission aligns closely with FACT’s goal of ensuring families have the resources they need to give their children the best start in life. We look forward to continuing our work together!
OCTOBER CAREGIVER EVENT
DAMOUNI ORCHARDS - OCTOBER 22nd
Join us on Tuesday, October 22nd from 5 pm to 6:30 pm at Damouni Orchards in Flint (2391 Reid Rd, Flint, MI 48507) Join us for pizza, donuts, pumpkins, hayrides, and fun! Please click here to register to ensure we have enough for everyone!
SAGINAW! Stay tuned as we plan for our first Community Dinner in Saginaw! If you are interested in partnering please let me know! bridgitt@mi-fact.org
SEPTEMBER ENVISIONING GROUPS
We are meeting for our Envisioning Groups in Flint and Saginaw. We will be hosting it virtually this month. We would love to have your input so please attend! Email me at bridgitt@mi-fact.org and I will send an invite.
FLINT
Tuesday - November 12th - 9 - 10:30am
Hosted Virtually over Zoom
SAGINAW
Tuesday - November 12th - 11:30 - 1pm
Hosted Virtually over Zoom
A special thank you to our friends at Voices for Children! The Voices team has been the welcoming hosts for our Envisioning Groups for the past several months. This kind of collaboration and dedication is what Community Based Prevention is all about!
RESEARCH UPDATE
We would like to thank Saginaw Valley State University School of Social Work (and you) for helping us with FACT's first focus group project with the communities we serve. Throughout this project, we connected with passionate community members and learned from our very own families. Each focus group was extremely valuable and helped us understand more about what our communities need to stay strong, supported, and healthy.
Alongside our partners at Saginaw Valley State University, we analyzed our data by triangulating current practices in our field, the dimensions of wellness, and the protective factors of families. Our participants spoke overwhelmingly of being involved with their community and feeling heard and connected with their providers. The full report can be viewed here: LINK
Our next project begins this month with a focus on protective factors. We are excited to continue working with our families and eager to learn from our communities again!
CBCW National Symposium was a TREMENDOUS SUCCESS!
Take a bow Michigan!
CALL TO ACTION! Friendly reminder to send in your Letters of Support!
The 2024 Community-Based Child Welfare National Symposium in Detroit was an incredible experience, bringing together professionals, advocates, and community members to focus on innovative solutions in child welfare. The diverse sessions, engaging speakers, and collaborative discussions helped shine a light on the importance of community-driven care. It was inspiring to hear from leaders across the country who are dedicated to creating stronger, more supportive systems for children and families.
Detroit was a beautiful and welcoming host city for the event. From the vibrant downtown atmosphere to the warm hospitality, attendees felt right at home. A special thank you to Wayne County Commissioner Chairwoman Alicia Bell for welcoming the attendees with her strong message of support. Check out pictures from the Symposium here and watch a short video here about the benefits of being a part of the National Center for Community Based Child Welfare!
The next Symposium will be on October 6th through 8th at Don CeSar Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida! We will keep you posted as information comes out! For now, you can join the waitlist!
