Safe Harbor

Children's Advocacy Center

Lori Antkoviak

Safe Harbor Designated Fund Receives $13,000 from Charity Golf Outing

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GEI CONSULTANTS’ ANNUAL GOLF OUTING BENEFITS OUR DESIGNATED FUND AT ACCF

Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center, in Allegan, Michigan, announces it has received $13,000 from the 4th Annual Kalamazoo River Clean-up Golf Outing, hosted by GEI Consultants on August 22, 2025, at the Lynx Golf Course. GEI is the leading consulting engineering and environmental firm with a project command center in Plainwell, Michigan.

Each year, GEI Consultants hosts a charity golf outing, and this year, the Safe Harbor Designated Fund at the Allegan County Community Foundation (ACCF) was designated as the event’s beneficiary.

The Safe Harbor Designated Fund at ACCF provides unrestricted operational support to Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center for its operation in Allegan County. Safe Harbor provides education, intervention, and advocacy services to identify, prevent, and address child abuse and neglect.

“We are deeply grateful to GEI for supporting Safe Harbor, as this funding will help us build a safer, stronger community where every child can thrive,” said Safe Harbor Executive Director Lori Antkoviak, JD.

Caring for the children in our community takes effort from our entire community, which is noted by GEI Consultants leadership team.

“Supporting Safe Harbor through ACCF means providing critical resources to the children right here in Allegan County and surrounding areas,” said Brad Parlato, P.E., Regional Manager / Senior Vice President at GEI Consultants. “We couldn’t be more pleased to continue our partnership with ACCF.”

According to ACCF, as GEI continues its work on the Kalamazoo River cleanup and other environmental initiatives, the company remains dedicated to strengthening the communities they serve. Safe Harbor is extremely grateful for ACCF’s partnership with GEI to invest in the health, safety and resilience of Allegan County. 

Lori Antkoviak

Executive Director Voted in to CACMI Board

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Lori Antkoviak, JD, to Serve on the Governance Committee   

Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center announces that its Executive Director Lori Antkoviak, JD, has been voted in by her fellow children’s advocacy center directors to the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Michigan (CACMI) Board. Antkoviak will serve a three-year term, effective September 19, 2025, and will sit on the Governance Committee.

Serving Allegan, Barry and Van Buren counties, Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center is a nationally accredited, nonprofit organization that provides children victims of abuse and neglect with hope and healing through an array of services, at no cost to the victims or their families. Antkoviak has been its executive director since 2007.

“Lori demonstrates keen navigation skills while she guides our local community through the many facets and challenges within children’s advocacy,” said Safe Harbor’s Board Chair Erin Bonovetz. “As she continues to serve our three counties in West Michigan, we are excited to see her bring her passion and professionalism to the state level and to help elevate the voices for our state’s children who are victims of abuse and neglect.”

CACMI serves as the statewide coordinating agency for the 40 children advocacy centers across Michigan. This most recent appointment continues Antkoviak’s long history with CACMI, with Antkoviak having previously served as the Board Chair for CACMI from 2013 to 2016, as well as secretary from 2008 to 2010.

Antkoviak highly anticipates continuing her work with the CACMI Board, alongside her fellow children’s advocacy experts.  

“I look forward to serving on the CACMI Board to create statewide advocacy and to ensure that local CACs are given support by the state,” said Antkoviak. “I am honored to serve all of Michigan’s children, so that we may provide a lifeline to the victims of abuse and neglect.”

In addition to serving on the CACMI Board, Antkoviak is active within the Southwest Michigan community, currently sitting on the Beacon Health Allegan Foundation Committee.

Results Are In!

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Annual OMS Survey Brings in 65 Responses for 2025

At Safe Harbor, we are so honored to serve the families of Allegan, Barry and Van Buren Counties.  
During Forensic Interviews with children, our Family Advocate Kelsey conducts a survey with our families about the services they received from Safe Harbor.
Here’s what some of the responses were:

This year, we have received 65 responses from our survey, as part of the Outcome Measurement System (OMS). We are one of hundreds of Children’s Advocacy Centers across the country that participates in the Outcome Measurement System (OMS), collecting tens of thousands of surveys from families and team members ever year. 

We are so grateful to our families for the trust they have in us, each and every day.

NEW Program Announcement!

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Introducing Problematic Sexual Behavior Program at Safe Harbor

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community at 2025’s Lifeline Gala, we are thrilled that we launched Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB) Program in Allegan County on October 1!

Over the past several months, Safe Harbor Therapists Amanda and Nicole (pictured below) have participated in extensive training, connected with Children’s Advocacy Centers across the state, and developed a specialized program to support children and families navigating this sensitive area of need.

“Launching the PSB Program has been a meaningful step in ensuring children and families have access to compassionate, research-informed support during an incredibly sensitive time,” said Nicole Betterly, Clinical Manager. “We built this program with the hope that no child feels labeled and no caregiver feels alone. I’m grateful for the community’s trust and generosity, which allows us to provide early intervention, understanding, and a path forward for healing.”

During the Gala in April 2025, the duo presented to 250 people in the audience on the need for this program for our community.

This program is designed to serve children under the age of 10, with referrals currently accepted through law enforcement and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

If your child is showing signs of problematic sexual behavior, our team is always available to offer guidance and connect you with helpful community resources.

Thank you to our supporters for helping us expand our services and continue providing crucial hope and healing for children.