The Michigan Fatherhood Coalition partnered with the Michigan Head Start Association to hold the 6th Annual Fatherhood Conference on February 1, 2008. The conference was held at the Double Tree Hotel in Dearborn, MI and the following awards were presented in honor of those who continue to support the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition initiatives and the commitment to responsible fatherhood.
“Those who truly support responsible fatherhood are the best advocates
for children and families.”
2008 Child Advocate Award
Supreme Court Justice Maura Corrigan
Throughout her career, Justice Maura Corrigan has been a determined advocate for improving outcomes for families in Michigan and throughout the country. She has participated in advisory boards, task forces, and commissions to improve foster care and adoption programs, child support enforcement, fatherhood and marriage initiatives, and family court procedures. Through her efforts, Justice Corrigan has improved the lives of thousands of children.
2008 Child Advocate Award
Stephen M. Goodrum M.A, S.W., M.Div.
Stephen M. Goodrum is one of Michigan’s pioneers in fatherhood programming and is known as the expert in working with teen dads within our State. Stephen is a founding member of the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition and has been the Team Fatherhood Program and Young Parent Mentoring Program Director of St. Vincent & Sara Fisher Center for twelve years.
2008 Special Recognition Award
CAUSE (Citizens Alliance to Uphold Special Education)
Mary Suumeyer, Executive Director
CAUSE’s mission is dedicated to advocating for children with special needs and their families. The agency is a known leader, amongst family service agencies in Michigan, for their work at involving fathers in educational decisions made on behalf of children. CAUSE has supported the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition for the past 5 years by hosting monthly meetings at their Lansing office.
2008 Special Recognition Award
Luanne Beaudry, MS, CPC
Luanne Beaudry has tirelessly supported Michigan families for the past 15 years through her work with the Prevention Network and Parenting Awareness Michigan of which she is the state coordinator. Luanne is key in the distribution of educational materials for families across the service provider spectrum and has consistently recognized the critical role that involved fathers have in healthy family life.
2008 Special Recognition Award
Steven Trudell, Courtland Consulting
As part of Courtland Consulting’s focus to improve the quality of life for Michigan’s children and their families, Steven Trudell, President, partners with select nonprofit organizations and programs that support this cause. These organizations and programs (i.e., Dads from Day One, Proud Fathers-Proud Parents, Michigan Fatherhood Coalition, and the Michigan Family Support Council) share a commitment to promote responsible fatherhood and nurturing parent programs that benefit the lives of children.