Child Advocates Inc

CHILD ADVOCATES SERVES CHILDREN AND YOUTH STATEWIDE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ABUSE AND NEGLECT. WE CHAMPION AND ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE AND RACIAL EQUITY IN CHILD WELFARE IN ALL COMMUNITIES TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL CHILDREN. OUR COMMITMENT IS TO LISTEN TO CHILDREN AND BE THEIR VOICE, STANDING UP FOR THEIR LIBERTIES AND WORKING TIRELESSLY TO KEEP THEM SAFE AND SECURE WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE.

THE CHILD MENTAL HEALTH WRAPAROUND PROGRAM (CMHW) SERVES AS THE STATEWIDE ACCESS SITE FOR FAMILIES WHOSE CHILDREN FACE SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH OR BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES. WE HELP FAMILIES APPLY FOR WRAPAROUND SERVICES, KNOWN AS CMHW, THROUGH THE INDIANA DIVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH & ADDICTION (DMHA). OUR FAMILY LIAISONS WILL ASSIST YOUTH & FAMILIES WITH THE APPLICATION PROCESS WHICH INCLUDES AN INITIAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS TO COLLABORATE WITH FAMILIES IN IDENTIFYING ANY ONGOING NEED FOR SUPPORTS.FOR ALL CHILDREN & FAMILIES WHO MAY NOT QUALIFY FOR THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES THROUGH DMHA, CHILD ADVOCATES WILL ASSIST IN MAKING REFERRALS FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY IN AN EFFORT TO SUPPORT THEIR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND BEHAVIORAL WELL-BEING.

INTERRUPTING RACISM FOR CHILDREN - IN MARION COUNTY, BLACK CHILDREN REPRESENT 11% OF THE CHILD POPULATION; HOWEVER, THEY REPRESENT 40.9% OF CHILDREN IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. RACIAL DISPARITIES IN CHILD WELFARE, INCOME, EDUCATION AND HEALTH CONTINUE TO EXIST AND SERVE AS A BARRIER TO JUST AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES. INTERRUPTING RACISM FOR CHILDREN EDUCATES AND MOVES INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE ACTION TO STOP RACISM IN ITS TRACKS, CREATING A FUTURE WHERE CHILDREN THRIVE AND RACE DOES NOT PREDICT THEIR LIFE OUTCOMES.

THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AT CHILD ADVOCATES IS COMPRISED OF TEN ATTORNEYS WITH MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN CHILD WELFARE. OUR ATTORNEYS ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO GAL (GUARDIAN AD LITEM) AND CASA (COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE) AGENCIES WITH THE GOAL OF ACHIEVING PERMANENCY FOR CHILDREN IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM.OUR ATTORNEYS AT CHILD ADVOCATES PROVIDE A WIDE VARIETY OF LEGAL SERVICES TO BEST ACCOMMODATE THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO; APPELLATE WORK, MOTION PRACTICE, LEGAL CONSULTATION, PETITIONS, TESTIMONY AND TRIAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING, IMMIGRATION, CAPTA, ETC.THE COURTS STRIVE TO PROTECT ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN USING AN ADVERSARIAL APPROACH TO PROBLEM SOLVING. MANY FAMILIES BENEFIT FROM A DIFFERENT APPROACH. FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS, THE MEDIATION AND FACILITATION PROGRAM HAS BEEN CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS, CASE MANAGERS, GUARDIANS AD LITEM, SOCIAL WORKERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, FOSTER PARENTS, AND LAWYERS TO BRING THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND UNIQUE SKILLS TOGETHER IN A CONFIDENTIAL PROCESS TO CRAFT INDIVIDUALIZED SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS THAT THESE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FACE.