Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation

For good. For ever.

306 South University Avenue Mount Pleasant, MI, 48858 United States

(989) 773-7322

Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for all citizens of Isabella County, now and for generations to come, by attracting and holding permanent endowed funds from a wide range of donors, addressing needs through grant making and providing leadership on key community issues.

Life Choices Parenting Program Fund

Mother and baby

In 2006, Naomi and Jim Stark established what is now known as the Life Choices Parenting Program Fund. These Empower Life Programs for parents are designed to equip and educate parents to manage the emotional as well as physical pressures that come with parenting. In these programs, parents can earn credits, in the form of Baby Bucks, for attending classes while learning valuable parenting lessons. Parents may use Baby Bucks to purchase baby and toddler items, diapers, and a plethora of other items from the Baby Boutique. Life Choices offers individual and group parenting classes, each with a slightly different focus and duration.

Life Choices of Central Michigan is a faith-based nonprofit that has been serving the local community since 1986. Today, the Life Choices Medical Clinic and Family Education Center are each regularly serving patients and clients through free of charge services that range from pregnancy testing, limited obstetrical ultrasound, STD testing and education, the Empower Life Programs for parents, and a Sexual Health and Relationship Education (SHARE) Program.

Kate Connors, President/CEO of Life Choices says, “We want every interaction we have with our Empower Life Program clients to inform and empower them to make the healthiest Life Choices possible. This includes, equipping them to be the very best parents they can be for their children through lessons tailored to topics that they have special interest in. These lessons come alongside the support of a caring Empower Life Instructor who becomes the parent’s biggest cheerleader as they learn to be the best parent they can be.” Ideally, Empower Life clients are able to participate in the program for up to two years before they graduate. At the time of their graduation, they have completed lessons on topics from safety, to positive sibling interactions, to creating courage and kindness in kids, and growth milestones, just to name a few of the many topics available to participants.

Each year, the Empower Life Programs serve participants through nearly 500 total classes. Investing in our youth and families is critical to the health and welfare of our community and investing in the Life Choices of Central Michigan Parenting Programs Fund is investing in the future of our community.