FACT Opens a New Hub for Genesee County Families!
The FACT TEAM!: L to R, Robert Graham, Ashleigh Jeffries, LaToya Cannon, Bridgitt McCaughey, Tanual Gaskin-Collins, Chad Pocock, and Olaisha Wallace. We missed having Terricina Jackson on the call.
Dear Friends,
We have some exciting updates and milestones to share with you. November has been a remarkable month for FACT. Our Flint Community Service Hub is THRIVING. We officially opened the Hub on October 1st and we are already making an incredible impact on families and our community.
On November 19th, over 60 attendees joined us to celebrate the Flint Community Service Hub's OPEN HOUSE. Families, service agencies, legislators, and foundation representatives from Genesee and Saginaw counties toured our facility including the three themed rooms, 'Sunroom', 'Focus Factory,' and 'Kidtopia'. Each room was carefully designed to foster connection and support for families, professionals, and children. I was very pleased to see so many faces and feel the shared enthusiasm for our mission.
Lydia Starrs from the Community Foundation of Greater Flint is presented a plaque that will hang in the FACT Hub thanking the Flint Kids Fund for its valuable contribution to creating the Flint Community Service Hub.
We thank the Community Foundation of Greater Flint and the Flint Child Health and Development Fund “Flint Kids Fund” of the Foundation for Flint.
Their generous support helped create FACT’s Flint Community Service Hub a new, innovative, and trauma-informed space. Hundreds of families will benefit from coordinated services and strengthen their community connections. Thank you for your dedication to empowering Flint’s families and building a brighter future.
Speaking of building a brighter future for our community, since October 1st, the Hub has been buzzing with activity:
Nearly 300 community members have utilized the space.
67% of open hours have seen community engagement.
We’ve hosted 8 types of engagements: remote office work, family visitation, playtime, parent cafes, resource distribution, training sessions, envisioning groups, and staff meetings.
The FACT Hub is available to local organizations! You can now reserve space at the Hub for your team meetings or events. information on the rooms is available before you book! Schedule your time here:
https://mifact.skedda.com/booking
As we reflect on the progress made in the past month, I want to thank you for being part of FACT’s journey. Your support fuels our efforts to provide safe, welcoming spaces where families and communities thrive.
Here’s to continuing this important work together!
Kind regards,
Bridgitt
This GIVING TUESDAY,
Help Us Strengthen Families and Build Community
This #GivingTuesday, we humbly invite you to support FACT as we continue our mission to strengthen families and build thriving communities. We have so much to be thankful for, especially your support, but there is still so much work to do and we want to keep the momentum going.
Your donation, big or small, provides essential resources for our Community Service Hubs, caregiver/family supplies, program coordination, and a safe, welcoming space.
We are also seeking strategic sponsorships with local companies, support from church groups, and any other organizations passionate about helping to support families. Together, we can make a lasting impact—join us in giving back this #GivingTuesday. Every dollar and partnership counts! Click the button below!
The FACT Team is growing!
We’re excited to introduce new additions to the FACT team who bring extensive experience in their fields and, more importantly, a deep connection to the communities we serve. They are already making a positive impact by working with families and partner agencies to ensure we provide support and coordination.
Terricina Jackson – Education Liaison - Saginaw
(989) 364-2172 || terricina@mi-fact.org
Terricina collaborates with schools, families, students, and educators to advocate and coordinate resources and support.Olaisha Wallace – Community Resource Specialist - Genesee
(810) 488-8285 || olaisha@mi-fact.orgLaToya Cannon – Community Resource Specialist - Genesee
(810) 488-8345 || latoya@mi-fact.orgTanual Gaskew-Collins – Community Resource Specialist - Saginaw
(989) 263-1664 || tanual@mi-fact.org
As Community Resource Specialists, Olaisha, LaToya, and Tanual work hand-in-hand with families, connecting them with the resources and support available in their communities.
Ashleigh Jeffries – Provider Services Coordinator-Genesee
(810) 488-8342 || ashleigh@mi-fact.org
Ashleigh partners with our service providers to enhance and expand the services available to families.
And the team is still growing with new additions very shortly! We are working to build and support stronger, more connected communities.
The Kidtopia Room at the FACT Flint Community Service Hub is a popular destination for kids and families to connect and relax and have a blast!
VOICES FOR CHILDREN - November Parent Cafe
On Thursday, November 21, Voices for Children held a Parent Café with our friends from GISD's Great Start Collaborative and Parent Coalition. This gathering was a unique and profound opportunity for families to connect, share experiences, and build community support as the colder months set in. Not to mention the kids had a blast in the 'Kidtopia'!
We are happy to finally be able to reciprocate for 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!
Please contact me if you are interested in a meeting or other small event at bridgitt@mi-fact.org. You can also check availability and reserve a room yourself on our website HERE!
JANUARY 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 - January 14th - 9am - 10:30am
FACT Flint Community Service Hub
609 E. 5th Ave., Flint, MI, 48503
SAGINAW
Tuesday - January 14th - 11:30am - 1pm
Hosted at Ennis Center for Children
3095 Cabaret Trail S, Saginaw, MI 48603
OCTOBER CAREGIVER DINNER
On October 22nd, we hosted our highest-attended Caregiver Dinner yet—and for good reason! Held at the beautiful Damouni Orchard, families enjoyed an evening featuring delicious pizza from Cottage Inn, fresh cider, donuts, pumpkins (donated by Damouni), and a twilight hayride. The event was filled with laughter and meaningful interactions, as families and our partner organizations had a chance to connect. We look forward to sharing details about our upcoming Caregiver Dinner in Genesee County at B's Bowling Center on December 20th!
RESEARCH UPDATE
Our next project with Saginaw Valley State University School of Social Work is underway intending to learn more about the protective factors of families. Each focus group will last no more than two hours and each participant will be compensated with a $25 gift card to Walmart for their time. Results from this will further help with the coordination of our programming and ongoing initiatives in the community. We are happy to be working alongside SVSU again for our second project.
2025 National Symposium Waitlist is Open
Always time to think about the next National Center for Community Based Child Welfare 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!
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!