Post on 19-May-2018
Kids’ Voice of Indiana
9150 Harrison Park Court-C • Indianapolis, Indiana 46216 • 317-558-2870 • www.KidsVoiceIN.org •info@kidsvoicein.org
2016-2017 Annual ReportJuly 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017
This life story is just one example of what the Kids’ Voice staff and volunteers handle daily. Working to advocate, educate, and protect these children requires trained, caring, and patient volunteers and staff. Each year, hundreds of hours are spend on each child’s case, assisting hundreds of children in our community that are living in neglectful, abusive, and unsafe situations. Our goal is to work on behalf of these children to assist in providing them the care, support, and love that they deserve and needs.
It is only through the help of each of you—volunteers, board members, donors, and staff—and your tremendous devlotion that Kids’ Voice is achieving the goal of providing a safe home for children. We exist to advocate—educate—protect the children in our community!
Thank you,
Eddie L. Rivers, Jr.President/CEO
Gabrielle and Isabella were 12-year-old twins and their younger brother, Juan, was only one years old. Their mother had been incarcerated in federal prison for drug trafficking and was deported upon her release. Two of the children were residing with an aunt and uncle during mother’s incarceration, and the youngest child was residing with another family cousin. The aunt and uncle were over-whelmed financially by caring for these two children in addition to their own two children and wanted to send the children back to mother in Mexico immediately upon her release from prison. The youngest of the three children was born a few days before mother went to prison and only knew the family cousin as his mother. In addition, mother would have no job or residence in Mexico upon her release according to her family in Mexico. All reports indicated that Mother became involved in drug trafficking due to the relationship she had with the father. Father was also incarcerated and was to be deported to Mexico upon his release.
It was clear that mother intended to rekindle the relationship with father once he returned to Mexico. Kids’ Voice recommended that all three children remain in the United States and was instrumental in finding them safe lasting placements. The youngest child remained with the family cousin. The older two children went to live with an aunt who had a job and obtained a new residence with room for the children.
9150 Harrison Park Court, Suite C, Indianapolis, IN 46216P: (317) 558-2870 F: (317) 558-2945 W: kidsvoicein.org
Board of Directors 2016-2018 President John Henning, Attorney Ogletree Deakins Vice President Michael Manross, Co-founder getSayDo Secretary Caroline Rosewell Eli Lilly & Co. Treasurer Louis Hensley, VP Corporate Banking National Bank of Indianapolis
Denise Hayden, Attorney Jessica Aldridge, District Sales Mgr Erie Insurance Amanda Hutchison, Senior Mgr Defender Direct
Michael A Wukmer, Partner Ice Miller, LLP Jeff Kelsey, Partner Barnes & Thornburg Jonathan Desalvo, President Arcamed, LLC Stacy Kelley, Attorney Glaser & Ebbs Howard Mays Self-Employed
Kyle Allen – IT Analyst Eli Lilly & Co. Annette Johnson – Educator Indiana Dept. of Education Michelle Hawes, Marketing Manager 2 Ingram Micro Mobility Advisory Board 2016-2018 Anthony Castonzo, Offensive Tackle Indianapolis Colts Bruce & Chris Arians Arizona Cardinals Jeff Saturday, Retired Indianapolis Colts Paul Rothwell, Vice President Smart IT Staffing
Larry Marietta, CPA Marietta Financial Services James Masur II, Attorney Robert W. York & Associates Jim Lines JLA Bakery Solutions Irene Matney, Director HR Shared Services Veolia Water Bradford Addison Ph.D, Partner Life Science Practice Group Chair Barnes & Thornburg
ADVOCATE. EDUCATE. PROTECT.
Kids’ Voice of Indiana protects abused and neglected children by providing child advocacy, legal education, and family Kids’ visitation through three programs:
Bette J. Dick Guardian ad Litem for Kids ProgramDerelle Watson-Duvall Children’s Law Center of Indiana
Jenny Miller Safe Child Parenting Time
Advocate — Guardian ad Litem (GAL) — program provides court appointed GAL representation for chil-dren involved in civil court cases – guardianship, adoption, divorce, and paternity.
There are 260 active volunteers, who provide an average of 40 hours for each child’s case. A typical case for a child involves an average of 14 months of assessment, records, reporting, and court hearings. For this fiscal year, we had 191 cases, for 265 children, which is at least 7,640 hours provided for these children—keeping them from becoming a Child in Need of Services (CHINS), or a ward of the state. Cases are becoming much more complex and require more work due to the opoid crisis and the need to find safe environments for the children left behind..
An intensive assessment is made for each child, including: home visits; interviewing various individuals involved in the child’s care, education,
and support; and requesting and reviewing criminal histories, Department of Child Service records, school, and medical records; speaking to counselors and teachers – all prior to preparing recommendations to a judge. Kids’ Voice provides a comprehensive view of the child’s situation with reports, home studies, and evidence.
A 14-month case for a child costs Kids’ Voice approximately $2,000. We have had some cases last as long as five years. GAL fees are minimal are offered on a sliding scale, waived in many cases, and are only collected in approximately half of our cases.ALL children receive help from Kids’ Voice, regardless of financial situation.
Educate — Children’s Law Center of Indiana (CLCI) — provides legal information and training for legal professionals and the community.
Through presentations and trainings, 1,336 individuals were educated and informed on children’s issues. Our staff responded to 786 inquiries from attorneys and the community regarding children’s legal issues, and 53 case law updates and 11 legal articles were posted to our website. Our website is continually up-dated with information and materials to assist the community and legal professionals in issues pertaining to children. Our website had 118,479 page views over the past year - with 32 percent of page views from returning visits and 68 percent from new visits. www.kidsvoicein.org.
Protect — Safe Child Parenting Time (SCPT) Program (formerly Supervised Parent-Child Visitation) —provides a safe and fully supervised parenting time (visitation) for children to visit with a parent as required by a court order or the parties’ written agreement.
402 visits were supervised by Kids’ Voice, providing a safe, secure, and comfortable environment for children to interact and have family time that is central to them.
Supervisors are screened and trained by Kids’ Voice and keep detailed notes regarding observations of each session.
631 hours (402 visits) were provided from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017
THANK YOU to our donors who have supported Kids’ Voice of Indiana through financial and in-kind gifts. Your gifts are vital in providing the children we serve with the quality programs and dedicated, trained volunteers and staff who are always working for the best interests of the child.
We are grateful for your support!
LEGACY$10,000 and AboveBruce and Christine AriansThe Arians Family Foundation
BENEFACTOR$500 to $999
Anthony CannonChad and Laura GrayDaniel E. BarrowDanny Portee’David EllisDelta Faucet CompanyIndianapolis ColtsJames E. TorkelsonJon DeSalvoStacy KelleyKory M. FutaLance DavisMarietta Financial ServicesMid-West Metal ProductsOffice360Scott CallahanThomas and Robin MarksWilliam StokesStoops Buick
PATRON$250-$499
Barbara Lehnhardt Barnes and ThornburgBill BissmeyerCaroline D. RosewellChristy Jo MilesDenise HaydenDerelle Watson-DuvallErie InsuranceEsource Resources LLCFrame ItJeffry and Belinda YoungJon MobleyJoyce SchooleyKaley SmithKatherine Meger KelseyKroger Community RewardsLilly Volunteer Grants ProgramMichael ManrossRobert AntrumSalesforce.orgWayne and Kathy Moore
70% of our families served are at or below poverty level. Our programs are offered at free or little cost.
All children are helped - regardless of the family financial situation!
GUARDIAN$5,000 to $9,999
Charles W. BrownHealthcare Initiatives, Inc.Ice Miller LLPLive Nation Worldwide, Inc./ Technology RecyclersOgletree Deakins Law FirmTenderCare Home Health Services
HOPE$1,000 to $2,499
Andrea T. Sneden Apex Infinite Solutions LLPBarnes & ThornburgBradford Addison, Ph.D.Carol LogginsDavid P.P. Lindsey Sr.Emily Angel EadsFreiji RSCLindsay FaulkenbergMMY ConsultingRobert EnlowSign Craft IndustriesSteve JohnsonThe National Bank of IndianapolisWilliam Monachino
INSPIRATION$2,500 to $4,999
Alex PaskoffBethanne Gruner LugarEddie and Jennifer Rivers Jim LinesLouis S Hensley IIIMarietta Financial ServicesMonarch BeverageSmart IT Staffing, Inc.
2016-2017 Annual ReportJuly 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017
SUPPORTERUp to $249
Abbie McDowellAlan ThompsonAmber ScottAmber SullivanAngel Lynn UpchurchAngela Amy WilliamsAnnee RidenourBradd SmithBrandy KumferBrian and Tiffany SchuttBrian P. LogginsBryan McCorkleC. Geoffrey and Adele VincentCari HowesCarlota GoncalvesCarrie MarstellerCatherine CraneCharles SutphinCheryl A. SwiftChristi DeeChristi L. CrimminsChristopher KumferConnie PopcheffCynthia MorseDavid Barrett Best and Judith LaFourestDavid F. DriverDeetta SteinmetzDevon and Shereasher McDonaldDJ BergsmaEdward and Synda BurtonEric and Rosiel MarascoErie IndemnityERJ Dining IV, LLC dba Chili’sF & A Pizzi, Inc., dba Napoli VillaFederal Direct Tax ServicesFred DorrisGary W. IrvinGive Back FoundationGregory L. CallenGwen GrunerHaley AlrmaHeidi HolsclawIrene Matney
Janet BallewJericka LaneJessica and Jenny AldridgeJessica SchnelkerJohn and Marjoie MooreJohn HenningJohn KlineJohn LougheryJoseph DelamaterJudy WadeJulie CamdenJulie Marie Chavez CorporationKaren WagerKate FloodKatie FloutKaty AlbrightKayla Ellen BledsoeKevin SteltzKimberlie WallaceKoorsen Fire and SecurityKristine MusselmanKurt V. Baer Jr.Larry and Crystal ShookLawrence and Contance GrunerLemuel StiglerLisa KennedyMadeleine G. BoydMarcia J. LakerMaria and Floyd LarrisonMark BaughMartha Ellen TaylorMary SutoMattew S. ParrottMays ChemicalMegon LongMeghann E. DialsMeyer Najem ConstuctionMichael and Paula PerersonMichael McKayNic LantzNicole FrenchPatricia CummingsPatricia McKinnonPatrick O’BrienPerry and Lisa ScottRaio KrishnayyaRichard Kolleth
Rick MartinRobert and Krista LawyerRobert HasseeRobert ManrossRoberta RossSara PitcherSherry CravensSherry WadeShirley HaltermanState Auto Insurance CompaniesStephanie ArtnakSteve and Marth Beth GoogasianTabitha CrainTara RabiolaTerry StokesTina StillabowerTracie Wells CollierVenetia L. FaulkenbergVicki KelseyVictor Perkins
We appreciate all of our supporters, each who are crucial to our ability to help children. We carefully review the generous donations that are provided.
If we have made an error, we apologize, and please notify us at info@kidsvoicein.org.
Staff
Eddie L. Rivers, Jr. - President/CEODerelle Watson-Duvall – AttorneyBethanne Gruner - Dir. Internal OperationsKatherine Meger Kelsey - AttorneyLindsay Faulkenberg - AttorneyAndrea T. Sneden - AttorneyEmily Angel Eads - AttorneyColie DeWaal - Program CoordinatorCarol Loggins - Grants/Events CoordinatorJoyce Schooley - SCPT Program Manager