Community Foundation donates $145,000 to support children and families

NETHERLANDS — Grants have been awarded to four local nonprofit organizations to support healthy children and families.

The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area has announced a total of $145,000 in grants to organizations focused on increasing “the consistency of health and caring adult presence in the lives of children.”

Organizations include Single MOMM, Arbor Circle, Midtown Counseling Services, and Radiant Roots Doula Network.

A $60,000, two-year grant to Traverse City-based Single MOMM will help replicate the organization’s model in Holland and Zeeland. Single MOMM, in partnership with Movement West Michigan, held listening sessions with single mothers in the area to inform programming.

Three primary concerns emerged: a lack of awareness of existing resources, wait lists and communication delays, and feelings of isolation. Single MOMM will use the funding to provide parenting classes, help navigating resources, and mental health support to local single mothers.

Arbor Circle will use a $30,000 grant to expand its father-friendly services in Ottawa County. The organization will research, understand and address the needs and barriers to engaging fathers and father figures. Arbor Circle said this will “help close a significant gap” in support services for male caregivers.

Midtown Counseling Services is also receiving $30,000 to support an on-site school counseling initiative at Holland Public Schools. The organization already partners with HPS to provide counseling during the school day.

With the grant funds, Midtown Counseling will provide free counseling to family members of students receiving counseling, offer parenting classes (including options for Spanish-speaking parents), art therapy, life skills groups for children and their caregivers, and partner with other local nonprofits to provide comprehensive support.

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Radiant Roots Doulas Network receives $25,000 to expand access to doula services and community childbirth classes in Ottawa County. Radiant Roots helps families during pregnancy, labor and postpartum.

Allison Brito of Radiant Roots said the grant will be “instrumental” to the group’s efforts in Ottawa County.

For more information, visit cfhz.org/nonprofits.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Community Foundation donates $145,000 to support children and families