Grant Application for
Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan (CFS)
Mission Statement:
To support the safety and well-being of those we serve in times of crisis, challenge, and life transition.
Fiscal agent if applicant is not tax exempt:
Tax ID Number:
38-2534222
Contact First Name:
Contact Last Name:
Tara
Ward
Address:
3785 Veterans Drive
Email:
Phone Number:
2319468975 ext 1201
Website:
Project Name:
Outdoor Oasis: An outdoor visit area for families who have experienced domestic violence
Project start and end dates:
June 1, 2025
May 1, 2026
Amount Requested:
$
4000
Project Description:
You are a mom who has not been able to spend time with your young daughter in two years, due to mental illness after experiencing domestic violence. Finally, a supervised visit program opens near you—CFS’ Safe Haven North (SHN) in Harbor Springs. You begin to visit and rebuild the relationship, but now it’s spring—and so lovely outside! Though the staff is warm and helpful and the visit rooms well-appointed, you long to be outdoors –pushing her on a swing, encouraging her to scale a climber. But there is no secure place to play outdoors.
The Outdoor Oasis is a playground designed to answer this need—and to offer the host of benefits of outdoor time to SHN clients during supervised parent/child visits and child exchanges (otherwise a prime time for domestic violence).
Our proposal is creation of the Outdoor Oasis (detailed plan available), a playspace where families affected by domestic violence can enjoy the benefits of being outdoors while building parenting skills and memories.
Goal of the Project
How many people will you reach?
108
What percentage are female?
50
If your program serves both males and females, how will Hestia funds specifically target women and girls?
While domestic violence is not perpetrated only on women and girls, the vast majority of those who suffer abuse are women and children. Typically, though not always, Safe Haven visitations follow court orders where the father must have only supervised visitation with his children, while the mother is the custodial parent. Safe Haven serves a woman in this situation by ensuring that her children need no longer fear abuse when with their father, due to Safe Haven supervision. SHN also handles scheduling of visits and ensures parents never see or hear each other, enforcing staggered arrival times and separate entrances. This also provides great relief to female clients. And, since child exchanges are prime times for domestic violence to occur, eliminating unsupervised exchanges reduces domestic violence and trauma for women and children. SHN also provides educational resources and connects clients with services from which they may benefit economically and otherwise.
As one Safe Haven client said, “Honestly, you guys are a godsend. Not sure where I’d be without you guys.”
See our video about Safe Haven here: https://youtu.be/A4zia3satfc.
How are recipients identified or selected to receive services? Is financial need considered?
Typically, Safe Haven clients are referred from the courts, though they can also self-refer. They are families that have experienced domestic violence and all include children. We work closely with the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan, Legal Services of Northern Michigan, and Friend of the Court offices in Charlevoix, Emmet, and Cheboygan Counties to identify and serve appropriate families.
Families in the foster care system who are making use of supervised visits and will use the Outdoor Oasis are court-ordered to do so. Many are seeking reunification with their children, some utilizing a new parent coaching program provided by CFS, called Family Time Coaching.
Ability to pay is not considered. There is no charge for services. The vast majority of Safe Haven and foster care clients are low-income, as identified by Medicaid eligibility.
What do you hope to achieve? What difference will this make in the lives of women and girls?
How will this project meet Hestia's mission statement?
Supervised visits and exchanges will reduce domestic violence in Charlevoix and Emmet Counties, and improve the mental health of women and children using our services. Women may gain enhanced economic well-being through provided aid and referrals, and improved work performance due to decreased stress.
When children witness domestic violence it can cause anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem; difficulty sleeping, making friends, and concentrating in school; and higher rates of juvenile school drop-out, substance abuse, pregnancy, and crime. When they no longer witness/experience domestic violence, they often increase their well-being and do better in school.
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, the siblings can spend time with each other and their mom. Another little girl in foster care now visits regularly with her dad.
In the Outdoor Oasis, families like this will gain benefits of time spent outdoors--lower stress, better mood, upticks in empathy and cooperation--as well as needed options for interactive activities. Won’t you help?
How will you evaluate or measure your success:
Safe Haven collects client surveys continually. Recent comments:
Safe Haven has been a life saver. They make my son feel safe and heard as well as for me.
Staff--you are amazing, and I know that you are doing everything in your power to help families.
We will document the construction of the Outdoor Oasis. We will track its use by clients to ensure its use and for evaluative purposes.
Bi-annual evaluation of the SHN program includes comprehensive written data on services delivered, staffing, staff training, program activities, policies/planning, number served, demographics, and more. Case documentation is reviewed and results are compiled, documenting the number of adults with increased parenting and communications knowledge and skills, and the number of children with decreased stres
Grant Project Budget Form
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