By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
Local teens, community leaders and experts will convene on Monday, March 10 for the Wedgwood Christian Services (WCS) annual State of the Child (SOTC) conference to discuss the toughest challenges youth currently face.
Held at Frederik Meijer Gardens from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., SOTC provides an opportunity to talk about these challenges and offer insight into how best to provide support.
What to expect
Led by a team of local teenagers in collaboration with a panel of community experts, SOTC will feature a panel discussion with local experts in various fields, a keynote speaker, breakout sessions and – most importantly – insights from teens themselves.
Brina Tiemeyer, WCS Director of Clinical services, says SOTC resonates with families and caregivers of youth due to the direct involvement of local youth.
“We have a panel of experts that sit on the stage, but all of the information that we’re talking about is brought to us from teens,” Tiemeyer told WKTV. “We hear directly from their mouths what they’re facing, what their opinions are on how they’re experiencing it, and then we have the experts’ response.”
Featured keynote speaker Dr. Angela Pharris, PhD MSW, will address the Science of Hope. Pharris’ research centers on child welfare and human service organizations, applying a hope-centered and trauma-informed framework.
The breakout session topics are directly driven by local teens each year. WCS partner Maranda with WOOD TV8 regularly ventures out onto the streets to engage youth in conversation.
“Local kids from all walks of life have the opportunity to talk, to say what they are experiencing or what they see their peers experiencing,” said Brooke Jevicks, WCS VP of Advancement.
In preparation for the breakout sessions, WCS also formed a committee that leans into several industries. Leaders in state government, educators, therapists and social workers, healthcare leaders, nonprofit leaders and representatives from the court system are all involved in the planning process.
The goal is to provide tangible takeaways for all types of caregivers for children.
“We try to make sure as many industries as possible that work or influence a child’s life have a voice in this event,” said Jevicks. “One of Wedgwood’s core values is diversity and inclusivity. It’s really important to us to make sure that we’re getting voices from all over the community to speak into what we are hearing and seeing so we know what would be most helpful to families, or anybody that’s working with children.”
Positivity produces resiliency
SOTC’s overarching theme that “the state of the child is up to you” led Wedgwood to lean into The Power of One concept for the 2025 conference.
“The science of hope ties into that because there’s data that shows if a kid has just one positive adult in their life, they have a huge opportunity to have a different trajectory than what other kids might,” said Jevicks. “Being that for a kid gives that kid hope, and that’s what will change their whole brain chemistry.”
Tiemeyer agreed: “All mental health and evidence based practice says that the number one resiliency factor to recovering from trauma is having one positive caregiver who makes a child feel that they are safe, lovable and capable.”
Because of this, Tiemeyer emphasizes that SOTC is not just for those serving youth in a professional capacity.
“This conference is for anyone that interacts or even cares for children,” said Tiemeyer. “Our audience is everyone. If you care about children, you should be there. If you have a heart for children, come to State of the Child; everyone is welcome.”
Safety and empowerment in community
For the past 65 years, WCS has been a leader in identifying the need to care for the whole family in order to care for the child, and has remained committed to the mental, emotional and behavioral well-being of both youth and families.
“We are increasing awareness, educating the community, so that people can be empowered to know how to be a good advocate, how to empower our kids to advocate for themselves,” said Jevicks, adding that it is important to know it is okay to ask for help – and that it is okay to not be okay.
“Life is hard,” Jevicks said. “We are born into a broken world, and life is really difficult, and our kids are struggling. Learning more and being empowered helps you empower others.”
Jevicks admitted that the SOTC conference is one of her favorite annual Grand Rapids events.
“It is so thoughtful, it is so intentional, it is so impactful,” said Jevicks, adding that SOTC creates a safe community. “Nobody at State of the Child is judging somebody for what they, or their kids, are going through. It’s a place where everybody can feel heard and seen and valued, and a safe place to talk about it.”
Knowledge, empowerment and community
Knowledge is power – and that is what you will receive at SOTC.
“There is no way you can leave that event without walking away with new information, feeling like you have more tools in your tool belt, feeling like you’re not alone, that there’s a community to go to and be a part of in these hard conversations,” said Jevicks.
Each SOTC guest will receive several tip sheets on a variety of subjects, including how to build resilience, when to know to ask for therapy, stress management and more.
“Wedgwood really wants to be a partner in your life because we know where families and kids are,” said Jevicks. “We want you to thrive at home; that’s what we’re here for.”
SOTC, Tiemeyer said, is the first step to building that community that walks alongside families. “Our goal is to always be alongside them and to empower them to be as successful as they are capable of being.”
Helpful Links
Register for Wedgwood’s 2025 State of the Child conference here.
To learn more about the comprehensive services WCS offers, click here.
