Wedgwood's Coffee Break Conversations Wedgwood Christian Services

“And we let these youth know that they are loved regardless of what they did. And we are here to help them. We aren't here not to judge them, but to build them back up to encourage them, to give them hope. To let them know that they don't have to be a product of what they came from because they do have a second chance and we do our best to give them a second chance.”
DeeDee YoungBlood-Weems, or as many of the teens in our Residential Program call her – Mama DeeDee – is the Supervisor of our Zondervan Home. For the last 14 years, DeeDee has been focused on one thing – sharing God’s love with the kids at Wedgwood. She talks about the patience, grace, and love required and how God is really moving at Wedgwood.
If you’d like to learn more about Wedgwood’s Residential Care and how you can be a part of giving kids a brave space to discover hope and healing head to www.wedgwood.org 

“You help them learn those skills, you just start to see their interests, what makes them happy, and kind of start to see them being able to live who they are.”
Launched in 2015, Wedgwood’s Autism Center for Child Development, or ACCD, is truly transforming lives. Through individualized, center-based therapies, the team at Wedgwood’s ACCD works with young children with autism spectrum disorders – helping them develop crucial skills. In today’s episode, Keili Scott (Clinical Supervisor of Early Intervention & After-School Programs) & Jen Ruffin (Clinical Supervisor of Training and Transitions Programs) join us to talk about the impact their work has on kids and their families, and how services are expanding! 
Wedgwood’s Autism Center for Child Development provides Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention for children ages 18 months – 6 years old and focused, after-school supports for kids ages 6 -12. To learn more, get connected to services, or tour our center, visit www.wedgwood.org/autismcenter.
Wedgwood’s Autism Center: 616.965.3492 | autismcenter@wedgwood.org 

“Just be supportive. Kids need to be listened to and not just pushed to the side […] don't label our kids, any other kids. Just be understanding, build those relationships, because when you have relationships, that kid will trust you and share with you what they need.”
When kids and families are involved with the court system, they often work with the probation team. Today’s guest, Marcela Moralez-Morris, has worked with these families in Kent County for 24 years. She joins us today to talk about the state of kids and families in West Michigan – what they are dealing with and the challenges she and her team are seeing, and offers some insight on how we as a community can support kids.
Check out Marcela and other incredible State of the Child Panelists talking about the state of youth and families in West Michigan at www.wedgwood.org/sotc.
Interested in volunteering or mentoring at Wedgwood? Email alisiak@wedgwood.org. Interested in mentorship opportunities through the court? Email marcela.moralez-morris@kentcountymi.gov  
Wedgwood’s Bouma Counseling Center and outpatient support services have immediate openings for kids and adults across West Michigan. Wherever life finds you, Wedgwood is here to help. Visit www.wedgwood.org/services/counseling-services to learn more and get connected to support today.

“But the more often there's trauma, and there's pain, there's misunderstandings, and there's feelings of isolation. So I have the power of just showing people love and giving them some connection and giving them the space to be whoever they need to be, encouraging them on the journey to whoever God wants them to be. Instead of telling them how they need to be, which is really powerful. Because I'm coming alongside, I get to help them to flourish in whatever capacity God wants them to flourish.”
It’s no secret that the state of mental health for youth is a big concern. Hannah Reed, a Wedgwood Therapist and recent panelist at Wedgwood’s State of the Child, joins us for a Wedgwood Coffee Break Conversation to talk about mental health and substance use, and how the two often go hand in hand for the teens she works with.
Wedgwood Outpatient Mental Health & Recovery Services have immediate openings for kids and adults across West Michigan. Wherever life finds you, Wedgwood is here to help. Visit www.wedgwood.org/services/counseling-services to learn more and get connected to support today.

In today’s episode, we talk to Dr. Heidi Cate, Superintendent of Integrity Educational Services about the district’s history and connection to Wedgwood, the challenges students are facing, and some of the ways Heidi and her team are finding collaborative, whole-student solutions to help kids succeed.
You can hear more insights from Heidi and other community experts at Wedgwood’s State of the Child Panel Discussion on March 21. For details and tickets, visit www.wedgwood.org/sotc
To learn more about Integrity Education Services and how you can get involved visit www.integrityedservices.org 

“We need to do it well in a way that brings honor to His name. That was one of the things that we talked about. We talked about how Jesus wanted us to love Him and love each other. […] And it was a commandment and wasn't an option.”
In today’s Dick Gritter, Wedgwood’s Executive Director of 33 years (1968-2001), and current Wedgwood team member Kali Jackson have a special “Then-and-Now” conversation about the founders’ vision for a distinctively Christian, professionally excellent organizations, and how our core values such as diversity and excellence cannot be separated from fully loving our neighbors.
To learn more about Wedgwood’s history and our distinctively Christian, professionally excellent services, visit www.wedgwood.org