News
RECENT NEWS
Family Support Center Awards “2022 Supporter of the Year”
The Family Support Center of Barry County held their Annual Meeting on February 14, 2023, to review and celebrate 2022 progress made in their mission to “eliminate and prevent all forms of child abuse and neglect.” During the meeting, the Family Support Center (FSC) recognized Sheryl Overmire for her long standing active support and volunteer work. Jennifer Eastman, Board of Directors President, commented “Sheryl has been a Board Member since 1984 serving as both President and more recently Vice President of the Board. She consistently supports many of our events such as the Very Barry and the Annual Golf Outing Fundraiser. She served for many years as the Chair of the Program Committee which monitors current and recommends new programming to ensure the organization stays relevant in strengthening families.” Linda Maupin, executive director commented “the Family Support Center is grateful for Sheryl’s outstanding support and loyalty for so many years of service to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect in Barry County.” The Family Support Center of Barry County offers many services to strengthen families such as Family Education, Kinship Family Support Services, Mandated Reporter Training, supports safe sleep environments with cribs/toddler beds/pack ‘n plays, provides diapers to Barry County baby pantries, as well as education on the impacts of Trauma, along with many other services. The Family Support Center can be reached at 269-945-5439 or email linda@familysupportbarry.com.
March is Parenting Awareness Month
Parenting Awareness Michigan (PAM) has identified March as Parenting Awareness month. During March, the Family Support Center of Barry County celebrates people raising children and promotes year around education and resources for parents and caregivers. They promote parenting awareness, education, and resources through local efforts—emphasizing the importance of effective parenting in nurturing children to become caring and contributing citizens. An important and prevalent category of parenting is Kinship Parenting.
What is Kinship Parenting?
“Kinship parenting is a broad term used to identify families of caregivers who are caring for children to whom they are related, , such as grandparents caring for grandchildren, and aunts or uncles caring for nieces and nephews. says Maggie Bayerl, Kinship Services Coordinator for Family Support Center of Barry County. “The work that we do here in our Kinship Program is to bring Kinship Families together through peer support programs, family education, and respite opportunities for caregivers and children in kinship care.” The Family Support Center also provides services such as the Diaper Depot, Parenting Education, Mandated Reporter training for professionals, Family Resource Guides, education on sexual abuse prevention, and safe sleep resources through the C.R.I.B. program.
Kinship Care has existed since the beginning of families but is not well-known terminology in the community. Children are in kinship placements for various reasons including parental work situations, substance abuse disorders, military deployment, poverty, illness, or the death of a parent. Due to the unique composition of Kinship families and the often-informal nature of kinship placements, there is a limited understanding from community members and a lack of resources available to many kinship families. The Michigan State University’s Kinship Care Resource center states, “Currently, about 36% of the foster care placements in Michigan are with relatives.” Kinship placement is a tremendous benefit to children as research suggests it can provide greater stability than alternative out-of-home placements.
The Family Support Center of Barry County works tirelessly to increase awareness of Kinship families, provide concrete and social supports to Kinship families, and implement prevention programs to reduce the need for out-of-home placements for children. In addition, the Family Support Center collaborates with many community and statewide agencies to foster community support for families across Barry County. To learn more about our programs, please visit https://familysupportbarry.com/ or email maggie@familysupportbarry.com.
Youth Services In-Person Meeting
November 16, 2022
8:00 AM – 9:00AM
In-person meeting will be on YOUTH SERVICES
Barry County Enrichment Center (BCEC)
Leason Sharpe Hall
231 S. Broadway
Hastings, MI 49058
Breakfast will be provided
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
Every family has strengths, and every family faces challenges. When you are under stress—the car breaks down, you or your partner lose a job, your child’s behavior is difficult, or even when the family is experiencing a positive change, such as moving into a new home—sometimes it takes a little extra help to get through the day.
Protective factors are the strengths and resources that families draw on when life gets difficult. Building on these strengths is a proven way to keep the family strong and enhance child well-being. This tip sheet describes six key protective factors and some simple ways you can build these factors in your own family.
