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Child Advocates

Child Advocates serves children and youth statewide who have experienced abuse and neglect or children who are facing other life traumas or challenges. We champion and advocate for justice in child welfare, children’s mental health well-being, educational help for children, and racial equity in all communities. Our goal is to help build a better future for every child. Our commitment is to listen to children and be their voice, standing up for their rights and working tirelessly to keep them safe and secure with an opportunity to thrive.

We are also a welcoming agency to the LGBTQ+ community.

In our 40th anniversary year, we held a “Vision and Values” reception to thank our supporters and our founders. The Indianapolis Section of the National Council of Jewish Women birthed our nonprofit in 1982.

In this “Sharing Our Values-Championing Our Children” video, we honor our roots and the path we have been forging for decades to help tens of thousands of vulnerable children across Indiana, including those who face abuse and neglect. Today, we continue to champion justice, equity, and well-being for children.

This video was created with special thanks to The Herbert Simon Family Foundation.

To learn more, please view the videos below:

An educator talks about the impact of our Educational Liaison program and its now-retired leader, Donna Walker, in helping children who face abuse, neglect, or other life traumas or challenges, succeed in school:

One of our dedicated supporters, who also volunteers for some of our programs, shares what connects us all including many of you:

 

Child Advocates, children, equity, justice, wellness, youth, your voice. their future, abuse, neglect, child abuse prevention, mental health, mental health services, racism, fighting racism, anti-racist, lgbtq, lgbtq advocatesChild Advocates, children, equity, justice, wellness, youth, your voice. their future, abuse, neglect, child abuse prevention, mental health, mental health services, racism, fighting racism, anti-racist, lgbtq, lgbtq advocates

Our Programs

Child Advocates offers vital programs and services for vulnerable children and youth across Indiana.

  • We connect families who have children with serious mental health and behavioral challenges to a state-funded wraparound program for help and hope.
  • We serve children and youth in the child welfare system in Indiana who have experienced abuse and neglect, including offering older children their own, free attorney.
  • We offer educational liaisons to help children who are struggling in school.
  • We advocate for racial equity in child welfare and our communities by interrupting racism for children.

We fight for justice, equity, and well-being for every child and we want to help build them a better future.

We fulfill our mission through six key programs: Children’s Mental Health Program, Direct Representation, Educational Liaison, Mediation and Facilitation, Legal Services, and Interrupting Racism for Children.

And we will do whatever it takes to help them, taking the lead with innovative programs in child welfare and in communities across Indiana that can help transform their lives. So how do we do it? Who better to tell our story than some of the children we serve?

Hear directly from some of them about what it means to have a child advocate give them a voice for their future. And hear how you, too, can join us and be a child advocate from our newly retired CEO, Cindy Booth, and some of our other amazing leaders.

Learn More
Child Advocates, children, equity, justice, wellness, youth, your voice. their future, abuse, neglect, child abuse prevention, mental health, mental health services, racism, fighting racism, anti-racist, lgbtq advocatesChild Advocates, children, equity, justice, wellness, youth, your voice. their future, abuse, neglect, child abuse prevention, mental health, mental health services, racism, fighting racism, anti-racist, lgbtq advocates

Show Your Support

We help children of all ages, races, ethnicities, genders, and socio-economic backgrounds. Children with irresistible grins, vivid imaginations, and incredible potential. A gift to Child Advocates helps protect the rights of our community’s most vulnerable youth.

Give Now
Child Advocates, children, equity, justice, wellness, youth, your voice. their future, abuse, neglect, child abuse prevention, mental health, mental health services, racism, fighting racism, anti-racist, lgbtq advocates, child advocacyChild Advocates, children, equity, justice, wellness, youth, your voice. their future, abuse, neglect, child abuse prevention, mental health, mental health services, racism, fighting racism, anti-racist, lgbtq advocates, child advocacy

Upcoming Events

20

Mar

Interrupting Racism for Children

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

24

Apr

Interrupting Racism for Children

12:00 am - 12:00 am

15

May

Interrupting Racism for Children

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

13

Jun

Interrupting Racism for Children

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

17

Jul

Interrupting Racism for Children (CEU Credits Available, upon request!)

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

28

Aug

Interrupting Racism for Children (CEU Credits Available, upon request!)

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

25

Sep

Interrupting Racism for Children (NASW Social Work Continuing Education Credits Available, upon request!)

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

View Full Calendar

Latest Blog Entries

mental health, children's mental health, justice, equity, child abuse, neglect, child welfare, children, wellness, child health, foster children, racism, abused children, attorneys, legal services, racial equity, immigration, mediation, foster kids, attorneys for children, study, research, groundbreaking study, diversity ally, diversity, equity, inclusionmental health, children's mental health, justice, equity, child abuse, neglect, child welfare, children, wellness, child health, foster children, racism, abused children, attorneys, legal services, racial equity, immigration, mediation, foster kids, attorneys for children, study, research, groundbreaking study, diversity ally, diversity, equity, inclusion

New CEO & How You Can Be a Child Advocate | Podcast Episode 22

We are going through major change in leadership in 2024 but our work for vulnerable children across Indiana is as …
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New CEO of Child Advocates Chosen as Long-time CEO Prepares to Retire

INDIANAPOLIS - The Child Advocates Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Phyllis Armstrong, a long-time, experienced leader and …
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mental health, children's mental health, justice, equity, child abuse, neglect, child welfare, children, wellness, child health, foster children, racism, abused children, attorneys, legal services, racial equity, immigration, mediation, foster kids, attorneys for children, study, research, groundbreaking study, diversity ally, diversity, equity, inclusionmental health, children's mental health, justice, equity, child abuse, neglect, child welfare, children, wellness, child health, foster children, racism, abused children, attorneys, legal services, racial equity, immigration, mediation, foster kids, attorneys for children, study, research, groundbreaking study, diversity ally, diversity, equity, inclusion

A Former Foster Child, Now Child Rights Lawyer, Shares Piercing Insight on the Child Welfare System | Podcast Episode 21

Hear an authentic, piercing, and comprehensive conversation about our nation’s child welfare system and its impact on children, especially children …
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CEO, Child Advocates' CEO, Child Advocates leaderCEO, Child Advocates' CEO, Child Advocates leader

Cindy Booth to Retire as CEO of Child Advocates

After a 30-year career at Child Advocates, Inc., including serving as the Chief Executive Officer for the past 28 years, …
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