We are excited to announce that planning for the Michigan Federation for Children and Families’ 2008 Senior Management Conference set for September 3-5, 2008 is well underway! Due to popular demand, we will return to the same resort location we enjoyed in 2007—Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville. Click here for the Conference Marketing & Sponsorship Opportunities.

The support the Federation receives through sponsorships and exhibitors directly affects the affordability of the conference registration for members. We appreciate all ways you can help us help you!

The many details of the conference—keynote and workshop presenters and conference registration form—are expected to be in place by late June/early July. For your own budgeting purposes, you would be safe to estimate a full conference registration fee to be in the neighborhood of $300 for staff of a Full or Affiliate member. Rates will be higher for Individual Members and up another notch for all others.

Here’s a quick rundown of the options for supporting the conference:
A - Chair-lift Ride to Mountain Top Reception Sponsorship - $1,750
B - Entertainment Sponsorship - $1,500 - ALREADY SOLD!
C - Conference Poly-Padfolio Sponsorship - $1,000
D - Keynote Speaker Sponsorship - $800*
E - Workshop Sponsorship - $700*
F - Refreshment Break Sponsorship - $600*
G - 5-Color Petal Highlighter Sponsorship - $500
H - Monthly Pocket Planner Sponsorship - $500
I - Exhibit Table - $500* except for **
J - Conference Goody Bag Item - $250 per item*
These opportunities are offered on a first come, first serve basis.
As promotional information is prepared and updated, sponsor names will be added to those materials.

*Federation Full and Affiliate Members and Corporate and Associate Sponsors may reserve these (*) opportunities for half-price.
**Federation Full and Affiliate Members may reserve an Exhibit Table for $50 if accompanied by a full or partial registration.

Click here to reserve your Crystal Mountain overnight room early; use this password: 4591JC

Get mental illness out of the shadows of shame
BY JACQUELINE CASTINE • May 2, 2008
Detroit Free Press • Opinion

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ALBION, MI – Members of Starr Commonwealth’s Marketing and Public Relations team attended the PACE Awards banquet on April 24 in East Lansing where the organization received six Pinnacle Awards for its integrated communications efforts.

The Central Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (cmprsa.org) hosts the PACE Awards annually and are mid-Michigan’s highest honor for public relations activities. Top honors go to public relations professionals who, in the judgment of their peers, have successfully addressed a contemporary issue with outstanding professional skill and creativity.

“As a key directive in our strategic plan to become a national leader in our field, we are committed to sharing the good work of Starr Commonwealth with key stakeholders,” said Simon Bisson, Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer. “This recognition speaks to those efforts as we continue to reach out to, donors, peer agencies, parents, referral sources and others, in presenting Starr as a worthy cause and a child caring organization capable of providing high quality treatment programs and creating lasting value change.”
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This day-long training in Mt. Pleasant sponsored by DHS will feature Probate Judge Dorene Allen of Midland County for the opening address, followed by a youth panel and two sets of workshops. Registration is due by May 30; there is no charge to attend. The announcement and registration can be found here: June 9: Reintegration Training. Workshop titles are:

• State and Federal Funding Sources and Payments for Youth in Out of Home Care
• JJOLT: Now and the Near Future
• The Workforce Investment Act for Youth
• Registering Sex Offenders in Michigan
• Advocacy and Problem Solving in Education and Rehabilitation Systems
• Essential Ingredients of Successful Community-Based Plans
• Building a Reintegration Program That Works
• Navigating Funding Sources for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care
• Using the Child Care Fund for Reintegration

A January 2008 five-page brief released by Prevent Child Abuse America, and funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, calculates that an investment in the prevention of child abuse and neglect can save the nation over $100 billion per year. The brief, titled Total Estimated Cost of Child Abuse and Neglect in the United States, updates an earlier publication that documented the nationwide costs that result because of child abuse and neglect (Fromm, 2001).

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