CHILD ADVOCATES INC
Your Voice. Their Future.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Juvenile Court Program
Since 1982, Child Advocates has been the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) appointed by Marion County Juvenile Court to CHINS (Child In Need of Services) cases to provide representation for foster children with the help of trained, community volunteers. Those cases involve children removed from their homes because of abuse and/or neglect. Child Advocates has served more than 95,000 children.
Child Advocates’ primary goal is to assign a caring, trained volunteer to act as an advocate for each child whose parents have abdicated that role through abuse and/or neglect of that child. Volunteers focusall of his/her energies on those few children whose cases she is assigned by the Staff Advocate, visiting the child in his/her placement, interviewing the child, the foster parents, the case manager, therapist and all others pertinent to the case before every hearing. The assigned Volunteer’s report is used by the Staff Advocate (whose caseload includes approximately 250 children and who manages about 20-25 volunteers) to represent the child’s best interests in the courtroom. The Staff Attorney is responsible for all legal preparation for the child’s case and for representing the Staff Advocate and/or volunteer when they are called to testify in court. Armed with that child-focused report, the judge, then, is able to make informed decisions regarding the best interests of the child (the victim in the case). Volunteers are required to undergo 30 hours of upfront training before being assigned a case. They are constantly monitored by the Staff Advocates.
Family Crisis Advocacy Program
Child Advocates is appointed to represent the best interests of children who are the subject of custody disputes and who have been abused and/or neglected.
Mediation
When the Marion County Department of Child Services begins proceedings to terminate the parent/child relationship, mediation can often achieve more positive outcomes than a trial.
Youth Advocate Program
Youth transitioning out of foster care at age 18 are often released from the State’s custody without a viable plan of action. Our Youth Advocate Program works with the youth in accessing necessary services and benefits. We build and nurture connections to local and national colleges and universities to help promote the transition from high school to college.
Where we work
Awards
Diversity Award 2012
National CASA Association
Quarterback Award 2012
Peyton Manning Children's Hospital at St. Vincent
Award 2104
Indianapolis Professional Association for Empowering INdianapolis Youth Award
Child Advocacy Award 2014
Children's Bureau
Dr. Theresa L. Roberts Chapter Service Legacy Award 2014
Indiana Chapter of the National Association of Black Social Workers
Director of the Year 2005
Indiana State GAL/CASA
Citizen's 125 Leaders 2014
Citizen's Energy Group
Judge Viola Taliaferro Award 2011
Indiana State Bar Association
Affiliations & memberships
Association of Fundraising Professionals - Member 2015
Combined Federal Campaign 2015
National CASA 2015
United Way Member Agency 2015
American Bar Association 2015
External reviews
Photos
Videos
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?
In 2014 Child Advocates updated our strategic plan outlining our plans for the next two years.
Our number one goal is to ensure that each child we represent is living in a safe, permanent home when his/her case is closed.
Key goals in 2014-2016 Strategic Plan:
1. Quality Improvement - Ensuring quality and consistency of services and operations.
2. Taking the lead in creating successful transitions for our youth aging out of the foster care system.
3. Increasing the visibility of our cause and financial sustainability of our organization
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
In order to provide quality representation to all abused children in Marion County Child Advocates plans:
Intentional Staff Development - It has always been our belief that staff should continue education and training as they see the need. Intentional Staff Development will ensure consistent, development of the staff's capabilities.
Leveraging the new Case Management database system -
Expansion of the use of volunteers
Increase volunteer recruitment
Board Development
Growing relationships with individuals and corporations
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Since 1982, Child Advocates is the only agency in Indianapolis to hold the contract with the Marion County Juvenile Court to represent and protect the best interests of abused and/or neglected children. During that time, more than 95,000 children have been represented by Child Advocates.
The model for training volunteers is certified by the National CASA Association and the Indiana Supreme Court.
As one of the largest CASA program in the country, Child Advocates is a member of the Urban Initiative, comprised of the top CASAs. Members meet frequently to benchmark programs, capabilities and concepts.
We are a flexible agency, capable of great change when needed. In 2014, Child Advocates was appointed to 1,000 more cases than the previous year - 6,000 vs. 5,000. To serve all the children we hired new staff and considerably increased volunteer recruitment.
In addition, recognizing that African American children are disproportionately represented in the Marion County foster care system, Child Advocates has been in the forefront, nationally, in training child welfare personnel in "Undoing Racism." The agency has trained more than 1,000 people in an effort to eradicate the disproportionality and disparity in abuse and neglect cases.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Newly created Outreach position and Outreach plan will identify volunteer profiles to target the right people and ask the right questions during preliminary interview to improve quality and retention rates.
We are still in the process of creating contingency plans for senior staff.
The board of directors continues to improve the diversity of board members.
We will continue the Youth Advocate Program which supports youth aging out of the foster care system in finding housing, work and/or school and by establishing a strong support network.
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
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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.
CHILD ADVOCATES INC
Board of directorsas of 01/04/2022
Mr. Dan Wanninger
BKD LLP
Term: 2018 - 2018
Daniel Waninger
BKD, LLP
Tracy Betz
Taft Stettinius & Hollister, LLP
Evelyn Gearries
Pike High School
Rhonda Harper
Citizens Energy Group
Tony LePere
BMO Harris Bank
Stacey Roberson
Eli Lilly & Company
Kimberly Seale
First Advantage
Mark Aiken
BKD, LLP
Scott Duncan
Salin Bank
Jennifer Frasier
Ice Miller, LLP
Greg Gotwald
Plews Shadley Racher & Braun
Oni Harton
Barnes and Thornburg, LLP
Phil Loftus
One America
Kristen Morris
Peyton Manning's Children's Hospital
Monique Gordy
Community Health Network
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 ? Not applicable -
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? Not applicable