They’ve been known for more than one and quarter centuries as Child & Family Services of Southwestern Michigan, Inc. Things, however, have changed in the 127 years that the non-profit organization has served Michigan’s Great Southwest and so, too, has the name.
After that 127 years of service to southwest Michigan, the organization will henceforth be known by their new identity following its rollout on Friday night. Tiffany Griffin, Director of Marketing & Communications for Child & Family Services says that the new name is The Avenue Family Network, Inc. What doesn’t change, however, is that the organization will continue to serve those in need within Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties.
Currently, CFSSWMI oversees multiple community programs including:
- Adult day services
- Adult homecare
- Guardianship services
- Safe Shelter for Domestic & Sexual Violence – the only shelter for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Berrien County
Joseph Goepfrich is the Executive Director there and he says, “This is not just a name change for us, we ventured into an entire re-branding for an organization that has been around for more than 127 years.” He adds, “Our biggest issue wasn’t that our community didn’t know who we were, it was that we were mistaken for something else entirely – a government organization.”
The organization began the process in July of 2017, and the announcement was made public back on Friday, November 30th at the organization’s 12th Annual Festival of Lights event – an event that benefits the organization and each of its programs, respectively. Following that announcement, The Avenue will move forward with business as usual, hoping that the makeover will help elevate their voice for the vulnerable citizens of southwest Michigan.
Child & Family Services of Southwestern Michigan, Inc. has been empowering strong families and securing safe homes, since 1891, and now, The Avenue Family Network takes over.
