Wedgwood's Coffee Break Conversation

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“Yes, January is Trafficking Awareness Month. But one of the main things that I want people to know that is, that is a month that we've set aside to acknowledge it, but this happens every day… I just want people to know that, first of all, trafficking is a real thing. It's not the Taken movie that you that you've seen. There are a lot of myths that are going around, and we have to be careful about the information we’re sharing.”

In today’s episode Nikeidra Battle-DeBarge joins us for a Coffee Break Conversation. As the Coordinator for Wedgwood’s Manasseh Project, Nikeidra leads Human Trafficking prevention efforts through education, awareness, advocacy, and collaboration.

Wedgwood’s Manasseh Project is just one of the donor-funded services that extend God’s love and helps our community grow and thrive.  You can learn more about Human Trafficking and Prevention in West Michigan at www.manassehproject.org. If you are interested in training and education opportunities, email Nikeidra at [email protected] or call 616.942.2110

Other Resources:

• Human Trafficking Hotline: 1 (888) 373-7888
  • Text HELP or INFO to 233733
• Wedgwood’s Manasseh Project Videos - 
  • Romeo: https://youtu.be/Pj2ZV6M9P3o
  •  #StopThisTraffic: https://youtu.be/U0j8fOdFuJI
• Polaris Project: https://polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/ 

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“Wedgwood is not just a place where we house kids until they're no longer a danger, it's just not. I think there's a perception of like, oh, it's “juvie-lite.” We do so many, really good things that help them. We're not just housing kids here. These are kids who need to be loved, who have unfortunately not seen a lot of love or felt a lot of love. And they're getting it here.”

In today’s episode Steve Carigon joins us for a Coffee Break Conversation. As Wedgwood’s Youth Ministry Leader, Steve provides fun, engaging opportunities for kids in Wedgwood’s Residential Program to learn about and experience God’s extravagant, life-changing love. Steve shares more about what youth ministry looks like at Wedgwood and why it is so important.

Wedgwood’s Chaplaincy and Youth Ministry programs are just one of the donor-funded services that extend God’s love help kids grow into who they were created to be. You can join us in extending God’s extravagant and awesome love. 

Your support of Wedgwood means that kids, adults, and families can experience God’s love, hope, and healing through exceptional Residential Care, Counseling Services, and Community Programs that are provided with grace. Show God’s life-changing love today by making a gift at www.wedgwood.org/extravagant-love

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“I teach the kids that we can fix just about anything. But sometimes we can't. Sometimes we can't fix things. And we just have to make it work and do the best we can with what the issue is. If there's a problem, we'll talk about it, compensate and do something else.”

In today’s episode we join Dick Teft, an Employment Training Specialist, in Wedgwood’s Woodshop for a Coffee Break Conversation about the importance and value of developing kids’ interpersonal skills in a hands-on employment setting, and how God is working through this special program.

Wedgwood’s Employment Training Program is donor-funded and able to help kids grow into who God created them to be through generous support. You can support Wedgwood’s ETP, and other life-changing donor-funded services by making a donation at www.wegdwood.org/give.

To learn more about Wedgwood’s ETP, how to purchase handcrafted products, inquire about custom projects, or sign up for services head on over to www.wedgwood.org/employment-training. You can also support Wedgwood’s ETP by shopping our Etsy Page – www.etsy.com/shop/WedgwoodETP. 

Be sure to follow Wedgwood on social media for more details about holiday pop-up shops, coming soon!

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“I see a lot of folks on believing the lie from depression or believing the lie of anxiety, that it's going to be forever. Depression’s favorite lie is, you'll never be happy again, you don't remember what it feels like to be happy, you're going to feel this way forever. That's actually not true. It's just not true.”

In today’s Coffee Break Conversation, Sophia Dykstra, a therapist at Wedgwood sits down for Coffee Break Conversation talks about how mental illness tells us lies and can impact the whole family, how finding the grain of truth can help us fight these lies, and the importance of being a supporting, loving, listening presence but not taking on other people’s emotions and burdens.

Wedgwood has immediate openings for adults and kids in our counseling and psychiatric services. Get compassionate, excellent mental health support you need without the waitlist. Call 616.942.7294 or email [email protected] today to set up an initial appointment or to learn more.

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“[My advice for kids at Wedgwood is] I think it's a really good opportunity for them to start picking up those pieces and taking control of who they are, even if it's little tiny baby steps, just doing one thing a day they can to focus on themselves.”

In today’s Coffee Break Conversation, we chat with Ashley Ward, Founder and CEO of Hire for Hope, who, as a community advocate and business leader, has been honored with several awards and recognitions. She shares insights on recruitment and retention, her heart for giving back, how she got to where she is today, and how Wedgwood played a role in her childhood!

Learn more about Hire for Hope at www.hireforhope.com.

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“Nonprofits like Wedgwood really add to the fabric of a community like Grand Rapids. We're blessed, there's a number of fantastic nonprofit organizations that come alongside whether it's children, or senior adults, or whoever might be in need. I think [many of us] think about and we might be moved by, as we're looking at the scriptures, [our] responsibility to take care of the widows and orphans and what to do for the least of these. When we work with an organization like Wedgwood, we know that we're giving our money for them to do work that we would like to do, but we just aren't as capable of doing it as they are. So let's go take our resources and support them.”

In today’s Coffee Break Conversation, we chat with Mick McGraw, President & CEO of Eastbrook Homes, a longtime, faithful friend of Wedgwood. Mick shares his heart for West Michigan, why giving back and supporting nonprofits is beneficial and important for our community, and why Wedgwood is special. 

Celebrate 62 years of Hope and Healing at Wedgwood’s 62nd Anniversary Celebration, presented by Eastbrook Homes, on October 6! See all details and purchase your tickets at www.wedgwood.org/celebration.

Learn more about Eastbrook Homes at www.eastbrookhomes.com.

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“Addiction is messy, and it is hard and it is difficult. It often takes time to get where we want to go. And if we want to help kids, we’ve got to help their parents, we’ve got to help their aunts, their uncles, we’ve got to help their grandmothers and grandfathers.”

In today’s Coffee Break Conversation, we chat Jason Olvera, one of Wedgwood’s Substance Use Disorder Treatment Clinicians. We talk about a few of the different kinds of services Wedgwood offers and why different types are treatment may be needed, the importance of grace and keeping an open mind, and that the recovery process is a marathon, not a sprint.

If you or a loved one are looking for recovery support, Wedgwood is here to help. Wherever you may be in this journey, our Substance Use Disorder treatment services can meet you where you are. To learn more about our recovery services, visit www.wedgwood.org/substance-use. To get connected to services you can email [email protected] or call 616.930.5004 of 616.240.0612.

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“And there's a lot of kids out there that are just struggling. I’ve heard from a lot of places that no one accepts kids, no one takes care of kid. Not true. We do. That’s what we’re here for. Wedgwood has the means and the resources to help them.”

The need for mental health support is great, and many services in West Michigan have long waiting lists. Wedgwood’s Psychiatric Services not only have immediate openings, but are available for the whole family – including children as young as six years old.

In today’s Coffee Break Conversation, we chat with Beth Oman, a Physician’s Assistant at Wedgwood Christian Services about what Psych Services are, how they are an important component of a holistic approach to mental health, and how Wedgwood can help kids and families in West Michigan right now.

To get connected to Wedgwood’s Psych Services or set up an initial appointment, email [email protected] or call 616.831.5641. You can learn more at www.wedgwood.org/psychiatry 

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“It’s really important for kids to feel accepted and loved. Most of the challenging behaviors we see stem from an ‘Are you going to love me, are you going to love me for me?’ mentality. We can say, ‘Hey, I appreciate you and who you are is important to me.’ And that, to me, is the resounding love of Christ.”

In this Coffee Break Conversation, we talk with Residential Home Supervisor Rebecca Kelm about the importance of Residential Care, how faith integrates into treatment – for both our staff members and those in our care, and how valuing and celebrating each child’s uniqueness impacts their treatment.

If you would like to learn more about meeting the wonderfully diverse self-care and hygiene needs of the kids and families that rely on Wedgwood Christian Services, you can email [email protected] or call 616.831.5621 for specific needs. You can also make a monetary donation at www.wedgwood.org/give. 

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“They are just children. They make have been that kid that was having a rough day, and telling you all about it, but they are skill kids. They may be 12, they maybe 18 but they are still a child that needs all that nurturing, and everything we can do from all the areas of wellness in order for them to lead positive lives.”

August is Wellness Month! In this Coffee Break Conversation, Recreation Therapist Chris Stehlik talks about what wellness is, how it’s multidimensional and interconnected, and its importance in our lives.

Chris shares the impact she sees Wellness & Recreation programs have in the lives of kids in our care, and great advice for taking care of your wellness and supporting the well-being of the kids your own life.

Wedgwood’s Recreation and Wellness Programs are 100% donor funded. To support the well-being of kids who’ve experienced trauma, or to get connected to services to improve your own well-being, visit www.wedgwood.org. 

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