Child Advocates Inc

The legal services program at child advocates includes providing legal representation to older children in their chins (child in need of services) and tpr (termination of parent-child relationship) cases. Children have many rights, including the right to be present and participate in hearings, the right to be a part of their case plans, and the right to information regarding their case. The goal of our direct representation service is to empower children with information so they can make the best decisions about their case, and to ensure each child's procedural fairness in the court process.our team is comprised of attorneys that have depth of experience in child welfare law and are trained in best practices for child representation. Our program director is the first attorney in indiana to obtain certification as a child welfare law specialist. Our representation of children service is in a randomized controlled trail studying the impact of counsel for children in child welfare cases. Our attorneys also provide education and training to child-serving organizations and professionals.the legal services program also provides mediation services in child welfare cases in many indiana counties. Our attorney mediators assist parties to resolve conflicts and remove barriers that prevent children from exiting the system and reaching safe and permanent homes. For over twenty years, our mediation services have been creating opportunities for parents, case managers, guardians ad litem, social workers, service providers, foster parents, and attorneys to bring their knowledge and unique skills together in a confidential process to craft individualized solutions to the problems that the children and families face.

Our community education and training program provides workshops to adults and youth in central indiana communities. Adult workshops empower attendees to make a difference in children's lives through learning, reflection, and action. Our youth workshops serve as a foundation for additional programming that provides enriching experiences to youth including leadership development, life skills, and civic engagement.

Our education advocacy service works to improve educational outcomes for children who need additional social, emotional, and educational support to succeed in school due to trauma or other life challenges. Our education liaisons collaborate with parents/caregivers, school staff, and service providers to develop education plans that accommodate and support each child's unique needs.