Two local nonprofits team up to prevent child abuse and neglect in Bay and Saginaw counties. CAN Council Saginaw County has announced that it is merging with Bay County’s Nathan Weidner Children’s Advocacy Center (NWCAC). CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region, the new entity, will strengthen programs and services that help prevent child abuse and neglect in the region.
“This is a major step to reach more children and families in our communities,” said Suzanne Greenberg, CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region president and CEO. “Our organization has had their own respective programs, but coming together under one organization will increase our ability to provide top-notch prevention, intervention and advocacy for children in our communities.”
In 2010, CAN Council Saginaw County and the NWCAC provided services to 4,050 children, families and professionals in Saginaw and Bay counties. Services included forensic interviewing, medical examinations, court advocacy, personal safety education, infant safety education and professional development.
“Those services were tailored to each community’s needs, and that will not change,” Greenberg said. “We are looking forward to enhancing and expanding these crucial programs and services that support our mission of building communities where children are free from abuse and neglect.”
The merge will streamline administration while keeping critical services operational in each county. A new board of directors has been created for CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region.
“We are extremely proud of the visionary leaders from both counties, who saw the need and the benefit of bringing our organizations together,” said Drewe Robinson, CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region board chair.