Courtesy Photo First Federal of Northern Michigan Legacy Foundation recently presented a $1,500 check to Northeast Michigan Community Partnership, Inc. (Partners in Prevention) as one of their first quarter grant recipients. The $1,500 will be used toward Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) workshops. Pictured from left to right are Kathy Brown, FFNM Legacy Foundation secretary, and Mary Schalk, Partners in Prevention program director.

ALPENA — First Federal of Northern Michigan Legacy Foundation recently presented a $1,500 check to Northeast Michigan Community Partnership, Inc. (Partners in Prevention) as one of their first quarter grant recipients. The $1,500 will be used toward Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) workshops. Pictured from left to right are Kathy Brown, FFNM Legacy Foundation secretary, and Mary Schalk, Partners in Prevention program director.

ASIST workshops empower people to provide life-saving intervention to those at risk of suicide. The program is designed to train people to recognize the signs of someone considering suicide, engage the individual to better understand their situation, and to connect them to the resources needed to keep them safe. Everyone can benefit from this training, and the more individuals trained creates a large network of help and hope for those in need, resulting in safer communities, schools, and workplaces.

In addition to ASIST workshops, Partners in Prevention provides training, presentations, and support groups to individuals in Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, and Presque Isle counties. Programs being offered in 2021 include:

¯ Circle of Parents Support Group — A support group that provides a friendly and supportive environment for anyone in a parenting role. The program is led by parents and other caregivers and provides a place to openly discuss the successes and challenges of raising children.

¯ Safe TALK Training — A four-hour workshop that provides lessons on noticing and responding to situations where suicidal thoughts may be present and to recognize invitations for help that are often overlooked.

¯ Childhood Trauma’s Impact on Adults Course — A course that is appropriate for adults over 18 who have experienced childhood trauma and who are seeking a safe place to recognize the impact the trauma has had on their life, empower them to take positive steps toward healing, understand and manage the overwhelming emotions they experience, understand and modify problematic patterns of behavior, develop a strength-based understanding of their life story, learn to seek trauma-focused assessment and treatment, if needed, and learn ways for self-care.

¯ Caring for Children Who Have Experienced Trauma Course — A course for adults who care for children that have experienced trauma. The course explores the biological and behavioral impact that trauma has on children, and how to use a trauma-informed perspective to care or work with children impacted.

¯ Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Support Project — A support group for families, and training for professionals and laypersons who work with children impacted by prenatal exposure to alcohol to understand the challenges and to learn strategies to help individuals succeed.

¯ Youth Mental Health First Aid Course — A course for adults to learn the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents. Participants learn to use the 5-step Mental Health First Aid Action Plan to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. The course teaches about recovery and resiliency with the belief that individuals experiencing these challenges can and do get better.

For more information on Partners in Prevention and the programs they offer, call 989-356-2880.

About FFNMLF

Headquartered in Alpena, the First Federal of Northern Michigan Legacy Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to serving community activities and nonprofit organizations in the Greater Alanson, Cheboygan, Gaylord, Lewiston, Oscoda, Mio, and Alpena areas. The FFNM Legacy Foundation welcomes grant applications for consideration at its quarterly meeting. Applications are available at https://www.ffnmlegacyfoundation.com.