Our legal services at Child Advocates are comprised of several attorneys with many years of experience in child welfare. They are committed to providing legal assistance that helps children in the system find safe and permanent homes.
These services include:
Child Advocates is the only organization in Indiana that offers free, in-house attorneys to represent older children in the child welfare system and give them a voice in their future.
Children have many rights, such as the right to be present and participate in hearings and the right to have information about their case. But Indiana is one of a minority of U.S. states that does not guarantee or mandate that children have the right to an attorney. Sometimes, children need attorneys to advocate for what they want.
As Child Advocates, our attorneys want to empower older children with information, so they can make the best decisions about their case. We want to ensure that they receive procedural justice or fairness in the court process.
Learn more about the importance of providing counsel for children and how attorneys impact their lives.
Our Mediation and Facilitation services help resolve conflicts between the parties involved with children in child welfare cases. We hope to prevent long court trials and help children find a safe and permanent home sooner.
The Courts strive to protect abused and neglected children using an adversarial approach to problem-solving. Many families benefit from our different approach. Learn more about Mediation & Facilitation.
Over the years, our educational advocacy for vulnerable children in the child welfare system has now expanded to serve children across Indiana who face educational obstacles.
Our educational liaisons offer services, at no cost, to eligible students who are struggling in school. Our liaisons are former educators or they have worked in educational environments. They help improve outcomes for students who need additional social, emotional, and educational support to succeed in school due to trauma and other life challenges.
Learn more about our Educational Liaison services, including how to make a referral for help.
We serve children of all ages, experiences, and backgrounds, no matter their story. 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.