Grant Application for
Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan
Mission Statement:
To ensure the safety and well-being of those we serve in times of crisis, challenger, 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
Website:
Project Name:
The People's Pantry
Project start and end dates:
July 1, 2026
June 30, 2027
Amount Requested:
$
2500
Project Description:
Child exchange times are a peak time for domestic violence. The Safe Haven North Supervised Visitation and Safe Child Exchange program serves families from Emmet, Charlevoix, and surrounding counties, increasing the well-being of the women and girls we serve. Our goal: to reduce domestic violence.
Our families come to us with many needs—for food, gas to make it to court-ordered visits and exchanges, clothing, and hygiene items. We request Hestia Women’s Giving Circle funding to create The Peoples’ Pantry in our office.
We request $300 for the physical pantry; and $2,200 to fill it with needed items.
This is not meant to replace other local pantries, but to fill short-term and immediate needs of our clients. The People’s Pantry will allow clients the dignity of choice and independence as they themselves choose items to fill their needs. They need not request individual items from staff. This point-of-service pantry will answer many immediate needs that our staff sees every day.
Goal of the Project
How many people will you reach?
120
What percentage are female?
60
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 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, due to Safe Haven supervision, her children need not fear abuse during court-ordered visits with their father. Safe Haven North also handles scheduling of visits and ensures parents never see or hear each other, enforcing staggered arrival times and separate entrances, providing great relief to female clients. Since child exchanges are prime times for domestic violence, eliminating unsupervised exchanges reduces domestic violence and trauma for women and children. Safe Haven North also provides educational resources and connects clients with services from which they may benefit economically and otherwise.
As one Safe Haven client said, “Safe Haven has been a life saver. They make my child feel safe and heard as well as for me.”
We want to further support our clients with The People’s Pantry.
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 having supervised visits will also have access to The People’s Pantry. Many are seeking reunification with their children, some utilizing a new Child & Family Services parent education program, Family Time Coaching.
Ability to pay is not considered. There is no charge for services. The People’s Pantry will be free to clients, funded by community members. 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 mental health of women and children using our services. Women may gain enhanced economic well-being through aid provided by The People’s Pantry, referrals to additional helpful services, and improved work performance due to decreased stress.
When children witness or are victimized by domestic violence, it can cause a host of mental and emotional problems. When they no longer witness or experience domestic violence, they often increase their well-being and do better in school.
The People’s Pantry will fill real and immediate needs, enhancing economic well-being and helping women and girls in their quest for self-sufficiency. Staff note that 75% of clients are in need of the items we plan to stock in The People’s Pantry: food to eat on site and to go home with clients; grocery gift cards; clothing, especially winter wear; clothing vouchers; common hygiene items (menstrual products, diapers, laundry soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, and shampoo); and gas and phone cards.
We will provide these immediate, on-site resources that can keep a client on track in her journey away from a domestic violence situation.
How will you evaluate or measure your success:
The People’s Pantry will be evaluated against these measures:
• Establishment of The Peoples’ Pantry by August 1, 2026
• Use of the Pantry by 75% of clients
• Consistent contents of the Pantry ascertained by a monthly inventory
• Positive comments on client surveys implemented 6 months after Pantry is opened
Safe Haven North itself is evaluated annually with client surveys and bi-annually with a very extensive written evaluation that includes comprehensive written data on services delivered, staffing, training, program activities, policies/planning, number served, demographics, and more. Also, review of case documentation of the number of adults with increased parenting and communications knowledge and skills, and the number of children with decreased stress and healthy interactions.
Grant Project Budget Form
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