Children's Bureau, Inc.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our families form our earliest experiences with others. We start by learning how to talk and how to listen. We learn how to share. We learn how to love. We learn how to fight, how to stop, and how to make peace again after. We learn how to work and what to work for. We learn who we are, and how to live together. Then we go out into the world and start lives and families of our own. That’s the hope. But the reality is often different. There are times when that story isn’t so simple. Times when we’re trapped, afraid, or in pain. There are times we feel lost or alone. Sometimes family is there to show us the way. But sometimes they’re part of the problem. And that can be even lonelier than being alone. Where do we turn when we can’t turn to family? And who helps a family when it can’t help itself? That’s Families First.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Survivor Counseling and Advocacy Program
The program aims to empower individuals who have suffered in an abusive relationship to heal, provide resources and education for safety, personal growth, educate on the effects domestic violence has on children, and promote awareness in hopes of breaking the cycle of violence.
The Survivor Counseling and Advocacy program provides free, separate support & education groups for adults, teens, and children.
Family Counseling
Professional help is provided for people experiencing a wide variety of challenges including marital conflicts, parent-child relationships, divorce adjustment or individual stress. Services offered range from brief support and reassurance, to crisis intervention.
Parent Education
This program equips parents with the skills to deal with the many unknowns of raising a child. Our instructors help guide you through the developmental needs of your child, as well as ways to effectively manage behavior. Because each period of a child’s development requires certain tools and strategies, we offer different classes for specific age ranges.
Substance Use
Outpatient professional help is provided for families where at least one member is alcohol or drug dependent. Services include a full continuum of substance abuse treatment and support services—from prevention/education programs for individuals experiencing the first signs of a problem, through intensive outpatient programs for those experiencing significant and persistent substance abuse or dependence problems.
Homebased Family Preservation
Keeping families together and strengthening family bonds is the goal of home-based therapy and case management. We also provide family functioning assessments, supervised visitation, and comprehensive home-based services. Conflict management, emergency/crisis services, facilitation of transportation, developing structure, time/money management, healthcare, child safety and more are procured as needed.
Father Engagement
Fathers referred to Families First from the Indiana Department of Child Services complete a 12-session class and receive help with:
- understanding their case
- education on their rights and the process of the child welfare system
- increasing their meaningful contact with their children
- connection to community resources to help the entire family
- an advocate for their court appearance an on their child's behalf
Alternatives to Domestic Violence Women Who Use Force (WWUF) Program:
Provides a safe space for women who have experienced violence as a survivor and who have used emotional and/or physical violence in their own intimate relationships. The group focus is on healing from trauma experienced as well as taking accountability for the abusive behaviors they have used. Treatment includes setting healthy boundaries, domestic violence education, the effects violence has on children, and skills to build healthy relationships.
Sexual Assault Counseling and Advocacy
Our sexual assault survivor advocates provide free and confidential services.
Advocates can meet with individuals in our office or at a safe community location to provide emotional support, assistance with protective orders, court advocacy, guidance through the criminal justice system, safety planning, community resource referrals,
support for loved ones, and educational and prevention programs.
Families First offers free support groups to individuals affected by sexual assault. Support groups available:
-Sexual assault
-Teen survivors of sexual assault and dating violence
-Non-offending parents of children that have been sexually abused
-LGBTQ+ survivors of sexual violence
-Adult survivors of childhood abuse
-Individual counseling is also available to survivors and their families.
Men’s Batterer’s Intervention
Provides a 26 week batterer intervention program for men who have perpetrated domestic violence. Treatment focuses on the cycle of violence, power and control issues. The program addresses alternatives to abusive behavior including stress management, setting healthy boundaries, communicating assertively and compassionately, managing one’s own uncomfortable feelings, and building healthy relationships.
Where we work
External reviews
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Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of participants that follow counseling recommendations
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Families
Related Program
Family Counseling
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Our goal is for 75% of clients in family counseling to achieve or make measurable progress toward their treatment goals.
Number of clients in treatment for substance use will maintain or improve their employment status while in the program.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Substance abusers
Related Program
Substance Use
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Our goal is for 85% of clients in treatment for substance use to maintain or improve their employment status while in the program.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Families First is here to work with people and their families and help them grow through life's challenges and changes.
We counsel those who struggle to maintain mental health. We support people who are working to be better parents, and work with those who are trying to break their addictions. We provide understanding and advocacy for people recovering from domestic and sexual violence. We help our neighbors reach their full potential and better their quality of life. And we’re there in times of crisis, for people who are trying to decide what to do next, or how to keep going in the world at all.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Families First addresses the short and long-term behavioral health needs of the individuals and families we serve. The approach to services is family-centered and holistic. Staff take a comprehensive view of all the family's needs in determining services. Client service is integrated and coordinated to minimize the negative effect of families who may be dealing with multiple single-service providers.
We engage individuals and families to be dynamic participants in their own success. The individual or family is involved at each stage of the service delivery - intake, assessment, service plan, service provision, and evaluation of progress. Service delivery builds on identified strengths of the individual or family to achieve desired outcomes.
Staff provide the most immediate, appropriate, and least restrictive level of care that resources allow using evidenced-based therapeutic models.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We are well-positioned for this work. Founded on Thanksgiving Day in 1835, Families First is the oldest non-sectarian, not-for-profit social service organization in Indiana. We're one of a few providers in Central Indiana offering professional help on a sliding fee scale.
More than 20,000 individuals annually are helped with a wide range of services, delivered in accessible formats (24 hours for crisis calls/sexual assaults) in a trauma-informed approach, in both English and Spanish, by 90+ therapists, counselors, and support staff. Staff members are trained in providing trauma-informed and culturally sensitive services, to ensure that all individuals and families feel respected, understood, and free from judgement.
The organization holds high ratings and accreditations from well-respected organizations.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Accomplishments in the past year:
-After 65 years in the same building, Families First moved to a new home! The new office space is in a secure and ideal building with easy access via public transportation and with high visibility to the public.
-Was named on of Indianapolis Star’s 2020 Top Workplaces!
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, staff sprang into action with their business continuity plan and continued to serve clients via phone, video, or even in person for those whose safety was most at risk.
-New support groups were formed for those struggling with anxiety and depression and grief and loss.
-Created and fulfilled new position for Supervisor of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Working on:
*Increased community recognition and awareness to build support from community engagement.
*Increased contributions from individuals and corporations to diversify reliance on major funders and the inherent risks to programs.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Children's Bureau, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 02/22/2022
Mrs. Virginia Lippert
Old National Bank Center for Business Excellence- Butler University
Term: 2019 -
Tom Peck
Hageman Group
Brad Boyd
Kiwanis International
Jane Watson
Community Volunteer
Doug Fick
TRC Worldwide Engineering
Mark Winzenread
Community Volunteer
Nick Alford
Faegre Baker Daniels LLP
Nancy Dillon
Community Volunteer
Virginia Lippert
Butler Business Consulting Group
Kenneth Sullivan
New Direction Church
Doris Tolliver
Annie E. Casey Foundation
David Siler
Families First
Bernice Anthony
Eli Lilly & Co.
Phyllis Garrison
Garrison Law Firm
Mike Martin
10k Advisors
Diedre Thornton
International Business College
Chris York
Aces
Kayla Ernst
Ice Miller
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
No data
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/28/2020GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.