Starfish Family Services

Strengthening families to create brighter futures for children

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Starfish Cares: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Community Updates

A Note from our CEO, Roxanne Brinkerhoff: Tragedy at Michigan State University

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February 14, 2023: Heartbreak for families & our communities – Time to support one another.

Dear Starfish Family,

Today – Valentine’s Day – is usually about sharing love and kindness. Yet today my heart is broken rather than celebrating. Yesterday, a shooting at Michigan State University took the lives of three people and left five people injured. This awful and jarring event being so close to home means that we may know someone who was directly impacted or see that there is greater impact to those around us. I also know that MSU is place so many in our broader Starfish family have powerful connections and memories.

This is a horrific tragedy for every family, young person, child, or member of the campus community that has been impacted. Our condolences go out to families and friends who are navigating the unimaginable.

Our children – all ages – should not have to live in fear when they go to school or off to college. Any space of learning and exploration should be safe and welcoming. With anguish, there is recognition that that we live in complex times where safety is not a given in any location. This is also a reminder to do all that you can to always be aware of your safety and surroundings. Take steps of precaution to secure your physical spaces, have an plan, and ensure you are in communication with family and friends. It is not possible to prevent all incidents from those who seek to do harm. Yet, as these incidents string closer and closer together and creep into the most sacred of spaces in our communities, we must work together to protect children and families, and one another.

Please give yourself some grace and compassion in the coming days as you may feel fear or anxiety. Here is a link to a helpful handbook from The National Child Trauma Stress Network. Also remember that anybody in crisis, or supporting someone in crisis, can call 9-8-8 from their phone to connect with mental health supports 24/7. Help is also online at: http://988lifeline.org.

Please be well and safe and thank you for your continued partnership with Starfish Family Services.

With care and gratitude,

Starfish announces selection of next CEO!

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We are so honored to announce the next CEO of Starfish Family Services! Following a national search, unanimous approval from the search committee, and enthusiastic support from the Board of Directors – Roxanne Brinkerhoff has been named the incoming Chief Executive Officer. She will begin her role on January 17, 2023.  

For more than 20 years, Brinkerhoff has brought significant leadership to children-focused nonprofits. Roxanne is the out-going CEO of Detroit Institute for Children and a past executive at The Guidance Center, a strong and collaborative partner to Starfish. Brinkerhoff considers outgoing Starfish CEO, Ann Kalass, a mentor and the two have worked in partnership in the community for more than a decade.  

“I am incredibly honored to welcome Roxanne to the CEO role at Starfish,” Kalass shared. “I have witnessed Roxanne to be an unrelenting advocate for families, community, and innovation. She has a powerful determination, and I have no doubt that her expertise and vision will carry Starfish into an incredible new chapter.”  

A graduate of the University of Michigan and Leadership Detroit XXXVII, Brinkerhoff is a member and past vice president of Great Start Collaborative-Wayne. She is a proven asset to children and families who are navigating labels and social barriers, whether gender, special educational pathways, mental health needs, or neurodiversity.   

“I am so excited and honored to join the Starfish team and come home to the work I love the most,” Brinkerhoff continued. “I have been fortunate to focus on children and families through my entire career, and early childhood education and behavioral health are the center of my passion and expertise.”  

Brinkerhoff called Starfish a national model for children-focused nonprofits, with a dedicated and dynamic staff.  

“Starfish is excited to welcome Roxanne to the CEO role and our full community,” said Board Chair Carla Burney Jones. “She brings unmatched experience in our program areas and has an obvious and inspiring commitment to mission and a vibrant future both for Starfish and the children and families of Southeast Michigan. We feel very fortunate to hire someone with such meaningful expertise and who is already deeply respected in the community for her impact.”  

Current Chief Program Officer and Starfish employee for more than 20 years, Marisa Nicely, reflected, “When I recently learned of Roxanne’s hire – I was immediately excited about working together and her arrival to the Starfish team! Roxanne and I have worked together in the community for a long time. She is an inspiring leader and has been a force in our movements for years and years. Her kindness and empathy make her a stand-out. She puts the Starfish values of integrity, equity, and teamwork into action every day.”

“This is an incredible opportunity to build on decades of accomplishments and trust and ensure that inclusion and equity are woven into the fabric of our daily action and long-term planning,” Brinkerhoff said. “I have been inspired by the dedication of everyone I interacted with and cannot wait to get started.”  

For Brinkerhoff, this role is also deeply personal as a former Head Start parent herself.   

“I know first-hand how amazing Head Start is and how the program helps families through the day-to-day challenges while also helping to build hope and strength for tomorrow. Our Head Start teacher was an angel in our lives,” Brinkerhoff reflected.  

Brinkerhoff is incredibly proud of her two young adult children who are a Division 1 pitcher and engineering student – and – an aviation-focused professional, respectively. Roxanne’s husband is a long-term educator in the Wayne Westland Community Schools District, another partner entity to Starfish in Wayne County.  

Starfish is working on a variety of virtual and in-person Meet & Greet opportunities starting in the new year. We cannot wait for you to meet her!  

With excitement and gratitude,  

Carla Burney Jones – Board Chair 

Howard Morris – Most recent past Board Chair and CEO Search Committee Chair  

Click here to read announcement article from Crain’s Detroit Business: https://www.starfishfamilyservices.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Starfish-names-Roxanne-Brinkerhoff-as-its-next-CEO-_-Crains-Detroit-Business-1.pdf

Juneteenth, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day

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On Monday, June 20, 2022, Starfish Family Services will be closed for a day of commemoration.

Juneteenth, short for June 19, is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, arrived at Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and that enslaved Americans were now free. This came two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which became official on January 1, 1863. (Source: https://www.juneteenth.com/history/)

On June 17, 2021, President Biden signed into law: S. 475, the “Juneteenth National Independence Day Act,” declaring June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day and a federal holiday. It was the first new federal holiday enacted since the establishment of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in 1983.

“Juneteenth (also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, or Emancipation Day) is a day to honor and celebrate liberation. The holiday is all about celebrating Black culture, history and life, and bringing people together to honor all those who came before us and fought for the rights and privileges we hold today.” (Source: https://www.purewow.com/family/how-to-celebrate-juneteenth)

Juneteenth Events: Southeast Michigan

We’ve spotlighted several Juneteenth celebrations taking place across southeast Michigan. Click for an expansive list of events, compiled by Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press.

June 11-19: Juneteenth Detroit Festival. Visit juneteenthindetroit.com for a list of events scheduled throughout metro Detroit that include music, art, food and so much more.

June 15-22: Southfield Juneteenth Celebration. Music, dance performances, a 2.5-mile walk, children’s story time, special appearances from Black Cowboy L.C. Caldwell and Tuskegee Airmen, food, and games. Southfield Municipal campus, 26000 Evergreen Road.

June 17-19: Juneteenth Freedom Weekend. The City of Detroit, Metro Detroit Black Business Alliance, Detroit Branch NAACP, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Juneteenth Jubilee, Detroit Means Business and Eastern Market Development Corporation have partnered for events such as the Rhythm and Art Block Party, the Juneteenth Jubilee Stroll Livernois Avenue of Fashion, and the Juneteenth Freedom Fest – Eastern Market Shed.

June 18-19: Juneteenth Jubilee Freedom Weekend 

  • June 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: The Charles H. Wright Museum will highlight the history of Juneteenth, an “Underground Railroad Treasure Hunt,” and black-owned businesses and job opportunities.
  • June 19, 3 p.m.: A concert at the museum entitled “Spirits Soar-Free!,” offering sights and sounds of musical performances from the 1860s to today.

June 18-19: Ypsilanti 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration. Hustle dance lessons, African dancers and drummers, poets, a jazz concert, comedy, and more at the parking lot behind Puffer Red’s, 107 Ferris St. in Ypsilanti.

Healing our children, community, ourselves

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Over the last several weeks, our world and our emotions have been rocked again by inexplicable violence and the unfathomable killing of innocent children and adults in what should be safe places. Watching news reports, as well as hearing about these shootings, have the potential to activate a trauma response (especially fear or anxiety) in children, families, and the larger community.

There is no easy answer. No single remedy for healing. But, as dedicated champions for children and families, we have compiled strength-based tools from multiple trusted and respected sources. And, please, never forget that Starfish is here for you.

Methods for healing

High profile acts of violence, particularly in a school, can confuse and frighten children who may feel they’re in danger or worry that their friends or loved-ones are in jeopardy. This is true even if the incident didn’t occur locally. Children identify with other children regardless of location—which may trigger signs of anxiety. This is normal. If behaviors persist over time, professional help may be needed. (Source: American Psychological Association)

What to look for?

  • Sudden changes in behavior: Trouble sleeping, difficulty with concentrating on school work or home responsibilities, changes in appetite, and changes in mood.
  • Regression: Do they struggle with activities that have previously been mastered, such as tying shoes (for little ones).
  • Despondency: Are they isolating, having crying spells or unpredictable outbursts.

How can we support our children?

Children look to us for information, reassurance, and guidance about how to navigate their emotions in a healthy, safe, and productive way. The best thing we can do is listen. Listening to our children about their worries and concerns is the first step to help them begin to cope (Source: National Association of School Psychologists)

  • Make time to talk and listen to the concerns and feelings of children.
  • Use language and ideas that are age-appropriate and appropriate for each child’s needs.
  • Help your child to identify their feelings.
  • Reassure children they are safe and review safety procedures.
  • Create a sense of safety by returning to normal, predictable routines as soon as possible.
  • Limit the use of media consumption of violent events to lower their stress and to maintain balance and perspective.

Model healthy behavior

It’s natural to be anxious right now. It’s perfectly okay to feel sad. Children, however, pick up on what we say and do and take cues from us. So, first and foremost, care for yourself. Sometimes, just taking time to sit in our emotions is exactly what we need.

  • Get adequate sleep.
  • Set an example by turning off the television, radio, or social media.
  • Talk to other parents.
  • Go for a walk, embrace the healing benefits of nature.
  • Connect with your community.

Resources

Ann Kalass: Looking to Retirement

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All of my days at Starfish have been inspiring.

A personal note from Starfish CEO Ann Kalass

Dear friends,

When I came to Starfish Family Services in 2007, I made two commitments on Day One. First, was to always do the right thing for children and families, even when it was hard. Perhaps most when it was hard. Second, was to steward the existing Starfish culture of loyalty to mission, teamwork, and deep love of children and families.

In the nearly 15 years since beginning this journey, my own daughters have become amazing young adults, I’ve witnessed new teachers become master educators changing lives every day—and therapists partner with families to heal and build skills and resilience.

I’ve shed tears as clients from the Starfish Family crossed a graduation stage, found stability and health, and discovered their power.

I’ve sat in countless classrooms where children are joyfully playing, having their curiosity cheered on, and a lifelong love of learning is being born. No two days have been the same. All of them have been inspiring. 

I have always closed the day feeling humbled by the opportunity to lead, to be surrounded by the most amazing teams and collaborators, and to strengthen families to create brighter futures for children in SE Michigan. Thus, the news I share today brings me both joy and tender reflection.

Late yesterday afternoon, I shared with the 400+ employees at Starfish that I am planning for a transition to retirement by early next year. This announcement has been in the works for many months and in discussion with my family far longer.
My tenure and success have been bolstered by our incredible friends and supporters in the community. Together, we’ve been able to grow the agency by nearly 400% (both budget and team), expand our programmatic reach, and center our vision in seeking a just society in which all children, families, and communities have equitable opportunities to grow, learn, and thrive.

While change has complexity, this transition will be planful and is in the best of hands.

  • A search committee formed a couple of months back and has already secured a recruiting firm to lead a national search for exceptional candidates.
  • Our Board President, Howard Morris, is leading this process.

In fact, Howard was a member of the committee that hired me to the role of CEO following our visionary founder, Ouida Cash. This is more than just fate—it reflects the commitment and dedication that is part of the DNA of Starfish.

I will remain as CEO until a new leader is hired and a smooth transition is complete. Before then, there will be opportunities to connect and celebrate. Thank you for trusting Starfish through the years and into the future.

Lastly, Crain’s Business Detroit covered this announcement if you’d like to read the article.
With immeasurable gratitude,

Ann Kalass, Starfish CEO

Starfish Family Services

Our Mission

Strengthening families to create brighter futures for children.

Our Vision

A just society in which all children, families, and communities have equitable opportunities to grow, learn, and thrive.

Starfish Family Services
(Headquarters)

30000 Hiveley
Inkster, MI 48141
734. 728. 3400

starfish@sfish.org

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