Child Advocates, Inc.

So, how much does your work team mean to you and the success of your business? Our Child Advocates team means "everything." We want to end this week with a shout-out and a big thank you to our kind, caring, compassionate, and experienced team of attorneys, social workers, educational professionals, family liaisons, race equity facilitators, I-T staff, and administrative assistants. These are just some of our team members at one of our recent events. But their hearts are as big as the moon, and their dedication unmatched for the vulnerable children we serve. This is more than work. This is a mission. And the world is a better and more beautiful place because of their advocacy for justice, equity, and well-being for every child. Be sure to thank your team! #thankyou #team #teamwork #employees #childadvocates #childadvocacy #childwelfare #racialequity #justice #equity #wellbeing #nonprofit

If you have a child who is struggling academically, socially, or emotionally in school, we may be able to help. Our educational liaisons offer free services to help improve educational outcomes for students in grades K-12. That includes cases where children were considered bullies or disruptors in school. In one instance, when parents sought help from our educational liaisons for their child, whom some considered a bully, our educational liaisons met with school administrators, teachers, and parents to work on a plan to help the student. That is when they learned that the student had mental health issues. Together they developed a support plan, not punishment, for a student who never wanted to be perceived as a bully. The plan included working with a school social worker to address social interactions at school and to supplement the student’s work with an outside mental health expert. The student was willing to learn and change. Today, the school staff praises how the student has turned around the behavior. Our educational liaisons, most of them former educators, patiently and expertly meet students where they are and collaborate with families and schools to address their unique needs so they can help them succeed. To learn more about our services, click here: https://lnkd.in/gt86R4GA #education #students #mentalhealth #wellbeing #school #educational #childadvocacy #childadvocate #advocacy #nonprofit

“These parents want our help for their children, as our educational experts guide them in the process, because it makes their ‘lift’ a little lighter.” – Phyllis Armstrong/Child Advocates CEO Our CEO is discussing parents' response to our free services that help children who are struggling in school socially, emotionally, or academically. She joined some of our educational liaisons, recently, on Radio One’s Community Connection Show, which is broadcast on AM 1310 “The Light.” Our educational liaisons, most of them former educators, work with schools and parents to prepare plans to help students, in grades K-12, succeed. Go 54 minutes into the show to listen and discover how our educational liaisons may be able to help your child: https://bit.ly/4ezplKy #education #school #students #parents #educators #teachers #educationalhelp #academics #socialemotionallearning #nonprofit #childadvocacy

It's a national tragedy. One that happens in homes across America every day. ??One in seven children faces child abuse or neglect in the U.S. on average each year. However, the Centers for Disease Control estimates those numbers are even higher because some abuse goes unreported. You may think of child abuse as 'physical', but abuse or neglect can come in many forms. Do you know the signs of child abuse? As child advocates, we hope you will take a moment to learn more. Education is power. And you could help change and even save a vulnerable child's life. Click here for more information: https://bit.ly/3Ax6jXj And if you suspect a child is facing abuse or neglect, you can call the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline in Indiana at 1-800-800-5556. #childabuse #neglect #children #justice #wellbeing #childadvocacy

Today, on Veterans Day, we pause to honor and thank all of the brave men and women who have served in our nation's armed forces. May we never forget your patriotism, courage, and commitment to protect our freedoms. Every day, you make us stronger and safer, often at great sacrifice, and today is a reminder for all of us to never take that for granted. We share this quote as one way to thank our heroes: “True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” — Arthur Ashe Please thank a Veteran today. #VeteransDay #ThankYouVeterans #HonoringOurHeroes #military #militaryservice #veteran

What does it mean to live in a home free from abuse or neglect? It means *everything* to the thousands of Indiana children we have served?for more than 40 years who have been placed in the child welfare system due to abuse in their homes. Recently, a case involving several siblings in the system was referred to our Mediation and Facilitation attorneys. Through this unique legal service, we help families and guardians resolve conflicts surrounding where children will live after they leave the child welfare system. Our goal is to move children out of the system?sooner and into a safe, permanent home. In this case, the siblings’ mother had been murdered and their father was not available to care for them. There was animosity and conflict between some of the relatives, which disrupted permanent plans for the children. Our Mediation and Permanency Facilitation attorneys worked with the Department of Child Services, others in the child welfare system, and the families to seek a resolution. ?After difficult conversations, tears, apologies, and forgiveness, everyone involved in the siblings' lives accepted a plan to move forward.? They agreed to let the children remain in the stable home where they had been living after they lost their Mom. And all of the parties involved in their lives agreed that the siblings would stay involved and connected to both sides of their family. In the end, they put the children and their future first. As child advocates, this is why we do what we do. We have the amazing opportunity to help children find a permanent home where they can experience healing, safety, and love. We fight for justice, equity, and well-being for each and every one of them. This is who we are. #childadvocacy #childadvocates #children #childwelfare #childabuse #childabuseprevention #legalservices #attorneys #nonprofit

?100,000 children.? That is how many children Child Advocates has served over the last 40 years. Today, we reach across Indiana to serve vulnerable children and youths and help build a better future for them. ??Learn how we have broken new ground with our legal services for children who've been placed in the child welfare system after facing abuse or neglect at home. ??Get information about our free educational services for children who are struggling in school, and see how we are interrupting racism for children. ??And hear from a few youths themselves about how our services have impacted their lives. We champion children and families by advocating for access to justice and equity and fostering well-being for children. This is who we are. Learn more about what it takes to be a child advocate in our new video, below. #childadvocate #children #childwelfare #justice #equity #wellbeing #fosterchild #abuseprevention #education #legalservices #advocacy #nonprofit #philanthropy

Today is a special holiday: Indigenous Peoples’ Day. It is a day to recognize the contributions, resilience, and culture of the descendants of people who first inhabited the Americas. They include American Indians and Alaska Natives. As child advocates, we advocate for justice, equity, and well-being for every child, including those in Indigenous communities. Every child matters. We hope you will take this opportunity to learn more about the issues facing Indigenous communities on this day of honoring them: https://bit.ly/4dLjZva #indigenous #indigenouspeoplesday #nativeamericans #AmericanIndians #alaskanatives #holiday #children #equity #diversity #wellbeing

No nonprofit is an island. We succeed partly due to the generosity of partners, sponsors, and other funders who make it possible for us to serve communities. We are deeply grateful to the Indiana Bar Foundation for its recent grant for Indiana organizations whose mission is to provide civil legal assistance to low-income Hoosiers. The Indiana Bar Foundation awarded $4.4 million to 12 different organizations, and we were honored to be among them. Child Advocates offers legal services to help children?who've been placed in the child welfare system find a safe, permanent home free from abuse or neglect. One of our unique services is the Direct Representation program, the only one in the state offering older children a free, in-house attorney to advocate for their legal rights in court and what they want for their future. Our CEO, Phyllis Armstrong, says, “Our work for vulnerable children would not be possible without the support of grantmakers such as foundations, corporations, or government agencies. We have helped more than 100,000 Indiana children in need with a variety of services during the last 40 years. We are grateful to the Indiana Bar Foundation for helping us continue to do this transformational work for children and youths.” To learn more about Child Advocates’ services, click here: https://lnkd.in/dDTxjVn9 #funder #philanthropy #grantmaker #nonprofit #legalservices #attorneys #justice #equity #wellbeing #childwelfare #fosterchildren #children #childadvocacy

*Nice little update today from Citizens Energy Group regarding how many people it served at this event which we profiled below, yesterday. Its Community Resource Day went from serving 150 attendees *last* year to serving more than 1036 attendees *this* year. This is impact!: (Yesterday's post): More than 244,000 households in Central Indiana are either facing poverty or at risk of it. So Citizens Energy Group held a Community Resource Day this past weekend to connect people to resources they need to thrive, and Child Advocates was there! Our CEO, Phyllis Armstrong, and one of our Educational Liaisons, Kay Christensen, interacted with event attendees to share information about our services which center on advocating for equity, justice, and well-being for children and youth in the child welfare system and in the community. ?? Those services include free educational liaisons who help improve educational outcomes for children who are struggling in school. ?? Unique legal services for children, including immigrant children, who are in the child welfare system due to abuse or neglect. ?? And “Interrupting Racism for Children” workshops for anyone in the community who wants to help build a better world for every child. Learn more about all of our services here: ?https://bit.ly/3XbYtut #poverty #communityservice #childadvocacy #nonprofit #justice #equity #wellbeing #children #communityengagement #communityservice