The holidays belong to us all. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Los Posadas, Diwali . . . what binds us together is hope, the joy of giving, faith, and family. At Starfish, we celebrate the spirit of the holidays. We celebrate YOU. At the end of another extraordinary year---a year of challenge and change, triumph and tragedy---it's essential to honor the people who have helped make the world better. At Starfish, your support is our greatest blessing. We, like you, seek a better today and an even brighter tomorrow: One in which all children have the opportunity to soar to their highest potential and all families can strive to reach their greatest goals. Because of you, Starfish can confidently remain committed to delivering meaningful work that moves children, families, and all of us forward. Because of your positive partnership, we know anything is possible. From your Starfish Family: Sharing humble gratitude for your trust and collaboration. Wishing … [Read more...]
Starfish blog: Talking turkey about Vax-giving
Thanksgiving is traditionally a time for family and friends to come together and celebrate. Last year, during the first wave of the pandemic, many of us drastically limited our gatherings---spending the holiday alone or only with those in our immediate household. In 2021, we are still in the throes of a pandemic, but now we have more protective factors to help make safe decisions for ourselves and families. Many people are calling this Thanksgiving "Vax-giving," a reference to having most (or all) family members who are gathering on Thanksgiving be fully vaccinated (or children 5-11 years old receiving at least 1 shot). Hosting a “Vax-giving” can help protect children and adults in your family who are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine or cannot receive the vaccine due to medical or religious reasons. It can also help reduce anxiety for some. An added layer of protection families can utilize is at-home COVID-19 tests. These tests can be done hours before guests gather and can … [Read more...]
Starfish blog: Cranberry-infused tale of care & community
“Maybe I should take a few bottles over to Grand River Brewery?” This was the question Steve Holda posed to his fiancée Tina Ryan in late spring of 2021. After almost 30 years of brewing beer in the kitchen of his home, Steve had honed his craft. But this latest experiment resulted in the best beer he’d ever made---a cranberry-orange pilsner. Steve shares with a chuckle, “I don’t even like cranberries!” By day, Steve puts a different form of expertise in motion as the Chief Financial Officer of Starfish Family Services. With a long history of leadership roles, landing at Starfish means Steve can also be part of the mission to strengthen families to create brighter futures for children---something he is very passionate about. Born and raised in Jackson, Michigan, Steve hoped Grand River Brewery (GRB) might be willing to hear him out on (and even taste!) his cranberry-orange pilsner. So, off he went. He was introduced to GRB’s owner, Justin Dalenberg, and master brewer Wyatt … [Read more...]
Starfish blog: Committed to mission, fully vaccinated . . . Thank You!
Today I offer my profound gratitude for Starfish employees and their commitment to become fully vaccinated---THANK YOU! I am so proud of our teams and their unwavering support for mission. This means Starfish can keep our doors open for children and families who need our services and steadfast allyship now, more than ever. (Starfish CEO Ann Kalass) The COVID-19 pandemic has uprooted our ability to connect with friends and family, often chipping away at our daily rhythm, increasing isolation, and pulling children further away from educational and health milestones. On October 1, 2021, Starfish Family Services announced a Covid vaccination mandate for our employees with a November 12 deadline to participate. Since the pandemic first arrived in Michigan, Starfish has been committed to doing everything possible to keep our employees, children & families, and communities safe. From mask-wearing, to handwashing, to social distancing, to screening tools, to increased … [Read more...]
Starfish blog: Committed to continued COVID safety
Since March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic first arrived in Michigan, Starfish has been committed to doing everything possible to keep our employees, children & families, and communities safe. How to keep people safe during such uncharted times has been a continuous learning experience---especially since no two days during the pandemic have been the same. One constant is that Starfish is dedicated to consistent, timely, and transparent communication with our community as part of our response management. To stay informed, visit and bookmark our COVID & Our Community page. Decisions based on data We leverage data and health-expert guidance in making all decisions. COVID case and testing data is posted three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. It steers our course as we make purposeful adjustments to our protocols. For example, the below is from October 13, 2021. The average number of new confirmed cases … [Read more...]
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