Our Programs

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. Additionally, Child Advocates will provide support through the Educational Liaison program for those youth who have identified intensive educational-related needs and do not qualify for the wraparound services through DMHA.

One priority for Child Advocates within the new Child Mental Health Wraparound Program is to intentionally focus efforts on identifying gaps in services for those children who may not have regular access to mental & emotional health care. Child Advocates will do this by identifying youth within the black, brown, and LGBTQ+ communities to increase efforts in coordinating supportive services to address their needs.

To gather more information about the CMHW program for which Child Advocates helps families apply, email Program Director Phyllis Armstrong at phyllis@childadvocates.net.

Learn more about the Child Mental Health Wraparound Services.

The Direct Representation Program provides attorneys to represent children in CHINS (Child in Need of Services) and TPR (Termination of Parental Rights) cases. Children have many rights, such as the right to be present and participate in hearings, the right to be part of their DCS case plan, and the right to information regarding their case. Sometimes, children need attorneys to advocate for what they want. The goal of the Direct Representation Program is to empower children with information so they can make the best decisions about their case, and to ensure the child’s procedural justice, or fairness, in the court process.

If you know of a child in a CHINS/TPR case who would like an attorney and they are currently removed from their home and 12 years of age or older, please go to this link to make a confidential referral.

Direct Representation Referral Form

Learn more about the importance of legal representation for youth.

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 barriers 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 their race does not predict their life outcomes.

We have expanded our “Interrupting Racism for Children” workshops from the child welfare system into communities across Indiana. Thousands of people from every race, ethnicity, gender, and walk of life have attended our race equity workshops over the last decade.

This is where change begins. It starts with us.

Join us to make a lasting impact on all children. Learn more.

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. A full menu of said services will be available on our website soon!

Legal Referral Form

Click to learn more about the many legal services we offer.

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.

For additional information or to schedule a mediation or permanency facilitation, please contact us at mediations@childadvocates.net.

Learn more about how mediations and permanency facilitations improve the lives of children.