It’s fall, GIPC Board! As the weather gets colder, there are plenty of events happening in Indianapolis to warm up the season. We spoke with one of our newest Board Members, Lindsay Scott, to learn more about her and what events are in store for Kids’ Voice of Indiana.

Access member profiles from previous months here. Have news you want shared? Let us know!

Can you share more about Kids’ Voice of Indiana programs and impact?

Kids’ Voice is a remarkable agency that offers a variety of services unlike any other agency in Indiana. Our work is powered by 100 staff members and 500 volunteers that serve 5,000 children each year. Our mission is to amplify the voice of children and youth in the legal system to improve individual outcomes and inspire system wide advances. Our programs are guided by the following pillars: ADVOCATE, EDUCATE, and PROTECT.

  • ADVOCATE: The Guardian ad Litem (GAL)/Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program provides advocacy for children in the Marion County court system – both child welfare and family law cases. These children have experienced trauma, family conflict/violence, substance abuse and other forms of abuse and neglect. Many of them are living in foster care or with other caregivers. Our advocates meet with the child, their families, visit their homes and schools and then report back to the court to ensure the child’s best interests are represented when judges are making decisions. This program also has a team of Educational Liaisons that focus solely on the academic success of the children we serve through individualized assistance and intersystem coordination for students and families. Another part of this program is the Older Youth Initiative that provides specialized support for youth 15 and older in the foster care system to help them make a successful transition to independent adulthood.  When Kids’ Voice is able to advocate for a child involved in a family law case, we are able to prevent that family from entering the child welfare system in 98% of our cases.
  • EDUCATE: The Children’s Law Center of Indiana (CLCI) is an integral part of the child welfare and juvenile justice systems within Indiana. CLCI has attorneys on staff who will research and provide answers regarding case law, statutes, and specific issues for attorneys, judges, youth-serving professionals and other stakeholders who need children’s law resources. Additionally, CLCI provides legal representation to other CASA and GAL organizations across Indiana and conducts in-depth professional training, educational, and technical assistance for multiple audiences. The Parenting Coordination Clinic is part of CLCI and offers free or low-cost services to assist high conflict parents be better co-parents thereby reducing trauma for children and the need for court intervention.
  • PROTECT: The Safe Child Parenting Time (SCPT) Program provides a place for a child and parent to spend time together in a safe setting when the court has determined a parent to be a risk to the child’s safety. Supervised parenting time allows 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.

What are your favorite Kids’ Voice of Indiana events?

Each year, we host two signature events – The Go Blue for Kids Gala in April for Child Abuse Prevention Month and Monday Night Madness. Monday Night Madness is such a special event because of the connection to the Indianapolis Colts. We have been hosting this fundraising event for almost 20 years now. It was started in partnership with Jeff Saturday. This year’s event will be held on Monday, December 9th at the Colts practice facility. The event is tailgate themed and offers exclusive access to Colts players all while raising money to continue our work! More info on the 2024 event coming soon: https://www.kidsvoicein.org/monday-night-madness/   

How can GIPC members support Kids’ Voice of Indiana?

  • Volunteer – Our volunteers advocate for the best interests of children involved in the Marion County court system. We offer regular info sessions for people to find out more about our volunteer roles and ask questions. All of our info sessions can be found here: https://www.kidsvoicein.org/events/
  • Donate – Make a one time or monthly contribution to support our work. Your donation might also be matched by your employer! kidsvoicein.org/donations
  • Serve – Interested in serving on the Board of Directors? Email me!
  • Attend – Join us at one of our events! All of them can be found on our website event calendar!
  • Give – Support our Holiday Day Gift drive personally or through your company. Provide gifts for children and/or volunteer to help with setup and sorting. kidsvoicein.org/gift-drive/

Anything else you would like to add?

I am excited and proud to join the GIPC board as I love Indy and want to support it any way I can both personally and professionally. In my work with Kids’ Voice, I have witnessed the impact that collaboration between private and public entities can have on our citizens, especially the children and families that need it the most. I am always up for grabbing coffee to talk about our work!