Child Advocates “There is no keener revelation of society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children” – Nelson Mandela It’s that time of year again when people of all ages are heading back to their families and homes. The holidays are quickly approaching and it’s a time where we find ourselves surrounded by the…
Holidays are Difficult for Indiana Foster Children
Helping Foster Children Reach Their Fullest Potential
Allan, a semi-retired pharmacist, read a book years ago that affected him profoundly, “Throw Away Children”, by Judge Lisa Richette. In her clarion call for reform, the author recounts many heart-wrenching cases of children who fell through the cracks of the juvenile court system – children who are left feeling unprotected, unloved and bereft of…
What We’re Thankful for in 2018
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. – Melody Beattie. There are a lot of reasons why it’s…
Holiday Gift Drive 2018
It’s time for Child Advocates Holiday Gift Drive! Help us make the holidays a little brighter for foster children! Our holiday gift drive provides gifts to children in foster care who might otherwise be without presents this year. Our goal is to provide more than 1,000 Indianapolis foster children with gifts this holiday season! …
Finding a Forever Family
Part 1 At just 4 years and 2 months old, the odds were stacked against Diggs and Myles. CPS had removed them from their mothers care due to her drug addiction. Their father had been diagnosed with cancer and was unable to care for them. Their family was struggling. The children were placed in foster…
Meet CASA Volunteer, Jim Thorne
Jim Thorne was first introduced to Child Advocates by an Undoing Racism Speakers Series event that was hosted at his church by Child Advocates. He knew his wife was interested in the program, so he decided to join her. It wasn’t long after that Jim and Jayne had decided to go through the volunteer training…
The Link Between Domestic Violence and Child Abuse
For too long, our culture has portrayed domestic violence and child abuse as distinct and siloed issues. For those of us doing the work, the link between them is undeniable. One need not work in either field for too long to notice that the families struggling with domestic violence are often the same families struggling…
Volunteer – It’s Good for Your Health!
When it comes to volunteering, it is true what they say: “What goes around comes around.” It looks like the positive actions of volunteerism, comes back to the volunteer in the form of improved emotional and physical health as well as longevity. In fact, if done for the right reasons, studies show that volunteerism contributes…
Staff Member Brian Robinson Accepts Jefferson Award
Child Advocates staff member Brian Robinson accepted the Jefferson Award for his outstanding service to the Indianapolis community. Please join us in congratulating Brian! His nomination is below and you can view his full interview on WRTV 6 here. Brian Robinson changes the lives of children and individuals in our community every single day. Professionally,…
CASA Volunteer Melanie Martin Empowers Children
Melanie wanted to give back to her community and decided that the CASA volunteer program would be a good fit. “When I first signed up to be a CASA volunteer, I didn’t anticipate I’d be meeting these kids who handle their grueling situations with such strength and grace,” said Melanie. “I know I’ve made an…
