FLINT, MICHIGAN (September 17, 2021) – Voices for Children Advocacy Center ,serving Genesee and Shiawassee Counties, is hosting the 9th annual Superhero 5k and 1k Fun Run tomorrow, Saturday, September 18, 2021, in downtown Flint. The family-friendly event will have both virtual and in-person options for participation with a 5k run and a 5k walk timed. All proceeds from the race directly benefit child survivors of abuse, neglect and human trafficking from Flint, Genesee County and Shiawassee County. Voices for Children annually serves more than 1,200 children and families. The agency, which is the only accredited Child Advocacy Center serving the greater Flint area and all of Genesee and Shiawassee counties, provides forensic interviews, therapy and counseling, support groups, victim advocacy, safe sleep education, other prevention and community education and the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program.
“It is always so much fun to see the families, friends and even coworker groups all dressed up for the races!” said President & CEO Claudnyse D. Holloman, Esq. “We are so pleased to be offering a hybrid race this year with virtual accessibility and a variety of options for participating.”
Participants can register for the races up until the run begins. Funds raised from the race act as a critical cash-match for grant funds to sustain Voices for Children’s free services. The center provides a critical service and is dependent upon support from the communities served to sustain programming and resources.
Voices for Children has continued to provide high quality services to children and families during the pandemic and increased service provision to meet the urgent needs of children and families created by stay home orders last year. Staff provided therapy via telehealth, victim advocacy, emergency forensic interviews and never stopped working with children in foster care. Voices for Children coordinated non-contact home drop offs of food, water and diapers for families in both Genesee and Shiawassee Counties. The center developed resources to support parents, as well as a tool for educators and the community to help identify suspected child abuse and assist in making a report during the summer, and when schools are closed.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Sponsorships remain available for businesses, organizations, and individuals. Contact (810) 238-3333 ext. 206 for additional information. Race registration is now open. Visit Voices for Children’s website to register for the event https://www.voicesforcac.org/events/flint-superhero-run/.
Voices for Children continues to provide free (virtual and in-person) community prevention education in the areas of child abuse and neglect, mandated reporting, human trafficking, safe sleep, resiliency and Adverse Childhood Experiences, internet safety, youth LGBTQ+ advocacy and child body/personal safety for local elementary students. For a full list of Voices for Children’s vital resources and programs and to learn more about Child Advocacy Center services, please visit www.voicesforcac.org. For additional information about the Superhero 5k & 1k contact Voices for Children at (810) 238-3333 EXT 206 or email sarah@voicesforcac.org.
ABOUT VOICES FOR CHILDREN
Voices for Children provides hope and advocacy for youth throughout Genesee and Shiawassee Counties. As the provider of child advocacy for this community, Voices for Children serves child survivors of abuse, neglect, and human trafficking, educates the community on prevention and creates advocacy opportunities for the good of all children.
Voices for Children Advocacy Center works to intervene in the cases of the alarmingly high number of children who are victims of abuse. This is accomplished through education, empowerment and enlightening the community, school-aged children and parents about prevention factors. The child advocacy center leads the community in responding to victims of child abuse violence and works to replace cycles of maltreatment with positive cycles of healing and resilience through prevention and intervention programming, as well as community education. Voices for Children is dedicated to building healthy relationships and provides a continuum of services for persons of all ages who have been, or are at risk of being, victims of child maltreatment. The agency’s model is grounded in a strengths-based, empowerment philosophy that partners with families and incorporates best practices and evidence-based strategies. All of Voices for Children’s services are completely free of charge to clients.
