KIDS' VOICE OF INDIANA INC

THE GUARDIAN AD LITEM/COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE (GAL/CASA) PROGRAM OF MARION COUNTY AMPLIFIES THE VOICES OF OVER 4,500 CHILDREN IN MARION COUNTY EACH YEAR. KIDS' VOICE IS APPOINTED BY THE COURT TO PROVIDE ADVOCACY FOR CHILDREN THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED OR AT-RISK OF EXPERIENCING ABUSE AND NEGLECT, MANY OF WHOM LIVE IN FOSTER CARE. VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF PROVIDE THIS ESSENTIAL SERVICE TO CHILDREN IN FAMILY COURT CASES OR WHO HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SERVICES AS CHILDREN IN NEED OF SERVICES (CHINS), WITH A MISSION OF PREVENTING FURTHER ABUSE AND NEGLECT.THE GAL/CASA PROGRAM INCLUDES EDUCATIONAL LIAISONS (ELS), WHICH SUPPORT THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF THE CHILDREN WE SERVE. ELS PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED ASSISTANCE AND INTER-SYSTEM COORDINATION FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. THE GAL/CASA PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES OLDER YOUTH INITIATIVES THAT PROVIDES SPECIALIZED SUPPORTS FOR YOUTH IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM TO HELP THEM MAKE A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENT ADULTHOOD.

THE SUPERVISED PARENTING TIME (SPT) PROGRAM - PROVIDES SAFE AND FULLY SUPERVISED PARENTING TIME (VISITATION) FOR CHILDREN TO VISIT WITH PARENTS AS REQUIRED BY A COURT ORDER OR THE PARTIES' WRITTEN AGREEMENT. SPT IS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE CHILD WHEN VISITING THEIR PARENT WHEN THE COURT HAS DETERMINED THAT PARENT TO BE A RISK TO THE CHILD'S SAFETY. SPT ALLOWS FOR A CHILD TO SAFELY VISIT WITH A PARENT AND MAINTAIN A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH BOTH OF THEIR PARENTS, WHILE REDUCING THE SENSE OF LOSS AND/OR ABANDONMENT THAT CHILDREN OFTEN EXPERIENCE. THE BENEFIT OF SPT IS FAR-REACHING. FIRST, A CHILD IS SAFE FROM WITNESSING AND/OR EXPERIENCING FURTHER ABUSE. SECOND, PARTICIPATION GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN THE HEALING PROCESS, MAKING THEM HEALTHIER AND MORE PRODUCTIVE INDIVIDUALS. FINALLY, IT BREAKS THE CYCLE OF ABUSE FOR FURTHER GENERATIONS.