Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan has attracted statewide media attention for its work to promote investments in child abuse & neglect prevention, high-quality preschool and after-school programs. Some of our recent events are described below.

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In February 2005, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan released its preschool report at a news conference in Detroit led by Ingham County Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth. The event kicked off a series of "Crime Prevention & Intervention Days" held throughout the state at Michigan School Readiness Program preschool and Head Start sites. At each of the events, members of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan presented the preschool report's findings with a legislative briefing and site visit for local lawmakers.

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan held a series of "Community Conversations" in 2006 led by members in Detroit, mid-Michigan and Cass, Ottawa, Genesee, Lapeer, Saginaw, and Kent Counties. The events further informed the public and local lawmakers about critical investments for children to prevent crime. Similar "conversations" in Marquette, Jackson and Midland are planned for later in 2006.

In March 2006, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan co-sponsored a Bullying Prevention Forum with Michigan State University. Dr. Joseph Thomas, Jr., state co-chair and Chief of Police for Southfield, served as a panelist. The audience was lawmakers and their staff, as well as state agency personnel. The event garnered statewide media exposure and was broadcast on the state government television channel.

In addition, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan has bestowed its "Crime Fighter Award" to individuals who have demonstrated leadership and support for critical investments in child abuse and neglect prevention, quality preschool and after-school programs. The award ceremonies are widely broadcast in local media.

Members regularly share their views on the crime-prevention and economic benefits of child abuse and neglect prevention, high-quality preschool and after-school programs through "Letters to the Editor," Op-Eds, and television and radio talk shows.