Michigan Federation for Children and Families

Advocate. Collaborate. Make a Difference.

“I’m excited to be part of an organization whose work reaches beyond a single family to create lasting impact in communities across generations in Michigan.”

Federation Welcomes Kathleen Redmer, Manager of Finance and Administration

The Michigan Federation for Children and Families is pleased to welcome Kathleen Redmer as our new Manager of Finance and Administration!

Kathleen brings a background in business, finance, nonprofit development, and organizational leadership. In her new role, she will support the Federation’s financial and administrative operations and help strengthen the internal systems that advance our mission and serve our members.

Kathleen’s nonprofit development experience includes helping shape a Michigan initiative focused on expanding access to stable housing, workforce readiness, practical life skills, and community connection for young adults facing barriers. She is passionate about bringing organizations together to create greater collective impact and is a member of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Lansing Regional Housing Collaborative.

A graduate of Lansing Community College, Kathleen is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the University of Michigan. Outside of work, she and her family of seven enjoy camping, hiking, and exploring Michigan together.

Kathleen officially began her role with the Federation on August 24, 2026. We are delighted to welcome her and look forward to the experience, leadership, and community-centered perspective she brings to our team!

We’re pleased to announce Sunrise Centre, Inc. as our newest Full Member!

Led by CEO Stephanie Dettloff, Sunrise Centre is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization based in Alpena that has been serving individuals impacted by addiction since the early 1970s. The organization operates a 41-bed residential treatment facility drawing clients from across the state, offering a full continuum of care for substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions. The organization is CARF-accredited and licensed by the State of Michigan for substance use disorder treatment.

Visit Sunrise Centre's website at https://www.sunrisectr.org/ to learn more about their work.

We're pleased to announce Easterseals MORC as our newest Full Member!

Led by President/CEO Brent Wirth, Easterseals MORC mainly serves Oakland, Macomb, Genesee, and Kent counties, offering a comprehensive array of services for children, adults, and families navigating mental illness, physical and developmental disabilities, and special needs, including mental health, autism spectrum disorder, substance use, senior, and veterans services, among others.

Easterseals MORC is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), committed to ensuring prompt access to coordinated behavioral health care.

Visit Easterseals MORC's website at https://morc.easterseals.com/ to learn more about their work.

“I’m excited to join the Federation and bring my research background to the impactful work being done to advance policies and practices that help Michigan families thrive.”

Federation Welcomes Dr. Joana Tolchinsky, Policy Analyst

The Michigan Federation for Children and Families is pleased to announce the newest addition to our team: Dr.  Joana Tolchinsky, Policy Analyst!

 In this new role, Joana will support policy analysis, collaborate with member agencies and nonprofit partners, and help translate research and policy developments into actionable insights that advance the Federation’s policy and advocacy priorities.

Joana brings a strong blend of frontline child welfare experience, policy research, and program evaluation. Her professional background includes work as a Child Protection Specialist with the Kansas Department for Children and Families and as an integrated behavioral health care consultant intern at Hunter Health in Wichita, Kansas. In these roles, she supported families navigating complex challenges related to poverty, health needs, and access to services, while also gaining insight into how broader systems and policies shape both service delivery and outcomes.

Motivated by these experiences, Joana pursued her doctorate focused on the intersection of health and child welfare systems. Her research and evaluation work centered on analyzing how federal and state policies influence families’ involvement in the child welfare system. She has extensive experience synthesizing policy developments, analyzing administrative data, and translating complex findings into accessible, actionable insights for practitioners, nonprofit leaders, and system partners.

Throughout her doctoral training, she held a series of research and evaluation roles that strengthened her ability to connect research, policy, and practice to support informed decision-making across child welfare and behavioral health systems. In April, Joana successfully defended her dissertation, “Medicaid expansion as a strategy to prevent deep-end child welfare system involvement.”

Joana is also a familiar collaborator with the Federation. She has conducted evaluations of the statewide Protective Factors trainings, partnered with staff on a leadership turnover project, and presented multiple times at the Senior Management Conference. These experiences have given Joana strong understanding of the Federation’s mission and the priorities facing our member network.

 The Federation staff is delighted to welcome Joana to the team, and we are excited for the passion, expertise, and perspective she brings to our collective work!

🌟 Become a Corporate Sponsor

The Michigan Federation for Children and Families is proud to partner with corporations and foundations that share our commitment to uplifting children, strengthening families, and building healthier communities across Michigan. As a Corporate Sponsor, your organization will receive valuable recognition and connection opportunities throughout the year:

💼 Corporate Sponsor Benefits

Prominent recognition on our website, featuring your logo, a direct contact link, and a narrative about your services.
A dedicated sponsor spotlight email to Federation members, introducing your organization and sharing key services, resources, and contact information.
Acknowledgment in Federation publications, including our monthly e-bulletins, reports, the Annual Report, and Member Directory.
Discounted sponsorship and marketing opportunities at our Senior Management Conference and other special training events.
A complimentary copy of the Federation Member Directory.
(Note: Contact information is provided for reference only and may not be used for mass marketing or unsolicited outreach.)