We network together with child welfare agencies, case workers, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, foster parents, adoptive parents, foster alumni and mission leaders in congregations through the regional FCC meetings plus email alerts.
The coalition has grown to a state-wide supportive network that meets in 12 different regions with 49 key leaders, over 45 gatherings a year, 31 child welfare agencies, some 700 on the mailing list, with 230 congregations getting involved in at least one project or program benefitting foster kids. All are working together to provide a larger safety net for our children in foster care as well as those aging out of the system. For a listing of the meetings, regions and contact information of regional leaders see the EVENTS calendar or REGIONAL MEETING LOCATIONS AND CONTACTS.
Congregations have organized donation drives that annually provide thousands of dollars in goods and financial support to meet emergency needs of our children, youth, foster families, and foster alumni. Congregations learn about specific needs through the representatives from agencies and case workers who network together through the FCConFC meetings and alert us about specific needs.
FCC REGIONAL LEADERS, COORDINATORS AND HOSTS:
Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmett Counties
Karlee Philip, Debra Chappuies, Sharie Jo Plain, Gayle Gotts
Eastern Market, Detroit Sacred Heart Church
Annette Howard
Eastern Wayne County
Dr. Angelique Day, Pat Dyble, Rev. Jimmie Sue Depp, Sue Acton,
Rev. Sarah Godbehere, Beth Dionne, Dr. David Benjamins
Ingham County
Dan and Abby Nowiski
Macomb County
Susan Foster, Pastor Wayne Stapleton, Tonya Stapleton
Mid Oakland County
Yvonne Rundell, Sheri Falvay, Rev. Joanna Dunn, Nina Macri, Rev. Kate Thoresen
Northern Michigan (Otsego, Crawford and Oscoda Counties)
Marc Morrell, Jim Bates, Suzanne Bates, Donna Von Brocklin , Jammie Truax
Northwestern Wayne County
Marsialle Arbuckle, Keenna Bell, Deborah Fair, Rev. Mary Austin
Southwest Michigan
Jennifer Nette , Jennifer Patrick
Washtenaw County
Heidi Church, Katie Page Sander
Western Wayne/Oakland Counties
Sheila Henderson, Peggy Fischer-Kmieciak, Chris Stirling, Sue Rakay, Val Kushman, Lynn Jarrett, Maureen and David Boyd
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Trina Richardson and Stephanie McCann of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Faith Based Initiative on Foster Care and Adoption participate in many of these FCC meetings to provide guidance and support to congregations
2011—Oakland County Circle of Light Award Through CARE House, Oakland County
2011—Child Advocate of the Year Award from Vista Maria
2012—Recognition of faith-based service for foster children presented by Governor Rick Snyder and MDHS Director Maura Corrigan at the State-wide Summit on Foster Care to the Faith Communities Coalition on Foster Care and the , then an outreach of the Save Our Children Coalition
2012—One of 30 pastors honored at the Salute to Pastors in Detroit breakfast by The Michigan Chronicle
2013--- FCC Regions and active congregations recognized by MDHS Director Maura Corrigan and Lieutenant. Gov. Brian Calley at the annual State-wide Faith-Based Summit on Foster Care
2013—Diversity Champion Award for Community Service nominated by First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham taking place at The Community Center, Birmingham
Dec. 2013--- Salute to Women Award from the American Association of University Women, Livonia Branch
June, 2014---The Harriet Tubman Award from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Task Force, Southfield
April, 2015---Community Partner Award from the Wayne State University’s Transitioning into Independence
October, 2015--- “Visionaries….Making Dreams Possible!” award from Community Social Services, Wayne County
December, 2015---The Uplift Award from The Center for Urban Youth and Family Development Uplift Award
2016 LOCATIONS OF REGIONAL MEETINGS AND CONTACTS
THANKS TO ALL OUR DEDICATED LEADERS FOR MAKING THESE POSSIBLE!
Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmett Counties FCC Region
Locations vary:
* First Presbyterian Church, 207 Williams St., East Jordan
* East Jordan Community Church, 301 Nicholls St., East Jordan, 49727
* Community Reformed Church, 100 Oak Street, Charlevoix
Contacts: Gayle Gotts of First Pres. Church,(gottsga@aol.com); Karlee Philip (karlee@faces-ministry.com); Debra Chappuies (dlc2x@hotmail.com)
Eastern Market, Detroit
Sacred Heart Church Activities Building, 3451 Rivard St., Detroit, MI 48213
Contact: 313-831-1356, Coordinator, Annette Howard at aphoward12@aol.com
Eastern Wayne County
Locations vary:
* St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 375 Lothrop Rd, Grosse Pointe, MI 48236
Contact: Dr Angelique Day, ew6080@wayne.edu
* St. Michael’s Church, 20475 Sunnydale, Grosse Pointe Woods,
Contact: Pat Dyble, patdyble@wowway.com
* Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, 16 Lakeshore Dr., Grosse Pointe Farms
Contact: Sue Acton, sacton@gpmchurch.org; Beth Dionne, bdionnegpc@aol.com
Ingham County
Locations vary:
Capital Congregation – Community of Christ, 1514 W. Miller Rd. Lansing, MI 48911
Lansing Church of the Brethren, 3020 South Washington, Lansing, 48910
Contact: Dan Nowiski, dnowiski@cofchrist.org
Livingston County
Brighton AG Church, 7770 Whitmore Lake Rd, Brighton, MI 48116,
Contact: Rhonda Trask at 810.986.0178 Rhonda@brightonag.org
Macomb County
Renewal Church, 11174 E. Thirteen Mile Rd., Warren, 48088.
Contacts: Susan Foster, lily503@yahoo.com; Pastor Wayne Stapleton, wstapleton@renewalwarren.com
Mid Oakland County
Locations vary:
* First Presbyterian Church, 1669 West Maple Road, Birmingham, MI 48009 Contact: Kate Thoresen, kthoresen7@gmail.com
* Kirk in the Hills, 1340 W. Long Lake Rd., Bloomfield Hills 48302 Contact: Yvonne Rundell, yrundell@comcast.net and Sheri Falvay, skfalvay@gmail.com
Northern Michigan (Otsego, Crawford and Oscoda Counties)
First Presbyterian Church of Gaylord, 513 Charles Brink Road, Gaylord, MI 49735
989.732.7447 Contact: Marc Morrell, MorrellM@michigan.gov; Jim Bates, jim@campwestminster.com; Suzanne Bates, suzanne@campwestminster.com ; Donna Von Brocklin, VanBrocklinD@michigan.gov; Jammie Truaz, Foster parent meeting Coordinator, 1-702-336-4976
Northwestern Wayne County
Locations vary:
Greater Grace Temple Church, 23500 West Seven Mile Road Detroit, MI 48219 with Local coordinator, Keenna Bell, M.A., 734 612-5111 Bellk4@michigan.gov
Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, 18700 James Couzens Freeway Detroit, MI 48235 with local coordinator Marsialle Arbuckle, marbuckl@hotmail.com
Westminster Church, 17567 Hubbell, Detroit, 48235 with coordinators: Deborah Fair, deborah_fair@live.com; Rev. Mary Austin, meaustin@wcodetroit.org
Southwest Michigan
Locations vary:
Milwood United Methodist Church, 3919 Portage Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Radiant Church, 8157 East DE Ave., Richland, Mi 49083;
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 1747 W Milham Ave, Portage Mi 49024
Cresthaven Room, Conference Room, Van Buren Intermediate School District, 490 South Paw Paw St., Lawrence, MI 49064
Almena United Methodist Church, 27503 CR 375, Paw Paw, MI 49079
Contacts: Jennifer Nette, jennifer_nette@msn.com; Jennifer Patrick, jenniferpatrick72@yahoo.com
Washtenaw County: Various Locations
Knox Presbyterian Church, 2065 S Wagner Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
242 Community Church, Ann Arbor 410 South Maple Road (behind Kroger); Ann Arbor, MI 48103.
First Presbyterian Church of Ypsilanti, 300 N. Washington, Ypsilanti 48197(corner of Huron and Cross Streets). Coordinators: Rev. Heidi Church, hgeibster@gmail.com; Katie Page Sander, katieepage@yahoo.com or at 734-497-7396
Western Wayne/Oakland Counties
Faith Community Presbyterian Church, 44400 W. 10 Mile Road, Novi, MI 48375
Coordinator: Sheila Henderson, rjsah@sbcglobal.net