Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan (CFS)
Final Grant Report for
Fiscal agent if applicant is not tax exempt:
Tax ID Number:
38-2534222
Contact First Name:
Contact Last Name:
Tara
Ward
3785 Veterans Drive
Address:
Email:
2319468975 ext 1201
Phone Number:
Project Name:
Outdoor Oasis: An outdoor visit area for families who have experienced domestic violence
Project start and end dates:
Sunday, June 1, 2025
Friday, May 1, 2026
Amount Granted From Hestia:
$
2000
Project results and Impact
How many girls/women have been served by the project during this project year?
This project serves families affected by domestic violence.
Nine women and 22 girls have used the Outdoor Oasis thus far. Many of these folks use the space many times over. It is used 10-12 times a week when weather permits!
The Outdoor Oasis has given us an extra area for longer visits. We can do part of each visit inside and part outside. This prevents boredom and helps visits go more smoothly.
The Outdoor Oasis also provides a more natural environment where it seems to feel less obvious to parents that they are being supervised, although the safety of supervision remains. Thank you!
Goal of the Project
Did you meet your program goals for the grant period?
If yes, how do you know? Please describe any program evaluation you use:
If no, please describe current barriers and how you are working to overcome them:
The best evaluation observation is the completed playground! It opened on October 1, 2025.
Our goal was to complete construction of a playground, the Outdoor Oasis, with:
• Fence
• Swing set with swing/toddler swing
• Pull-up bar
• Funnel ball
• Balls/sports equipment
• Picnic table
• Bench
• Woodchips
This goal was reached and exceeded—in addition to the list above our playground also has a riding toy, colorful stepping stones, a large and a small picnic table, and a bin to hold sports equipment. The fence is painted chain link, with a privacy fence, and a border encloses the woodchips. It officially opened two months late, due to contractor scheduling, but before the snow flew! It turned out beautifully!
Clients used the playground almost daily until winter arrived. While children and youth wait for the second parent to arrive for an exchange, or spend time with a parent on a supervised visit, they play outdoors safely, using up nervous energy and engaging in healthy, interactive activity.
Nine women and 22 girls have used the Outdoor Oasis thus far (and 23 boys and men). Many use the space many times over. It is used 10-12 times/week when weather permits.
Do you have a story of how your program positively changed participant's situation, behavior, or knowledge?
If so, please share it:
We have a father and daughter who really struggled to talk to each other. In the Outdoor Oasis one day, we found them sitting side by side on the swings, with conversation flowing naturally. It was a special moment, repeated many times. The ability to have these natural conversations on the playground really seemed to improve the visits and help their relationship move forward.
One domestic violence survivor lost custody of her children due to mental health issues. But she is now able to see her daughter weekly and just began supervised visits with her second child, too. For the first time in years, her daughters can spend time with each other and their mom. They can now spend their time together in the Outdoor Oasis, enjoying the many benefits of being outdoors, such as lowered stress levels, more positive mood, and increased empathy and cooperation. Thank you!
Sustainability
Will this project continue?
If so, how will it be funded?
If not, why not?
This was a one-time effort, although the benefits will continue for many years to come. Thank you for your strong support!
Public Relations
How did you publicize this grant?
Please list any examples.
We thank donors yearly on our website, cfsnwmi.org, and send a press release to local newspapers. Hestia was also thanked in 2 social media posts.
Also, the video linked here has been on our Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channel. It thanks all the Outdoor Oasis donors, including the Hestia Women’s Giving Circle!
https://youtube.com/shorts/2GtTAYaLEZE?feature=share
In addition, an article ran in our e-newsletter, which goes out to 4,000 people. It featured the Hestia logo and the following text:
On June 18, Child & Family Services was honored to attend the 20th Annual Hestia Women’s Giving Circle Reception at Pond Hill Farm as one of 20 grantees.
We’re grateful for the grant supporting our Outdoor Oasis playground at Safe Haven North in Harbor Springs. This space will provide families—especially women and children affected by domestic violence—a safe, healing environment for supervised visits and exchanges.
Thank you, Hestia Women’s Giving Circle, for your commitment to empowering women and girls in our community. We’re proud to partner with you to help families heal and thrive.
Summary Comments
We are so thrilled with the outcome of this project. We wish all Hestia members could see what a sweet outdoor playspace they have helped to establish.
A great benefit was making contact with so many community members who donated to the project—12 of them! Also unexpected were the “extras” our contractor was able to provide—the riding toy, the border enclosing the woodchips, and a wooden privacy fence on the road side of the playground.
The Outdoor Oasis cost $7,816 more than originally budgeted, due to: the tree removal and stump grinding needed as a result of the ice storm; play equipment that cost more than anticipated; and the stretch of privacy fence needed to block the view from the road. However, our community rose to the challenge and fully funded the project! It was a testament to generosity and community spirit. We so appreciate the Hestia Women’s Giving Circle for helping us support the most vulnerable among us.
Grant Final Budget Form
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