When grandparents stand in the gap When parents become unavailable to care for their children—whether through addiction, incarceration, or some other tragic circumstance—very often the children’s grandparents or other relatives absorb the children into their households. This may happen formally through CHINS, guardianship, or custody proceedings, but it often happens informally, with no court involvement […]
Children
Collaborating for the Children
Julie Whitman, Executive Director | Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana Children live in families and communities, not programs and systems. When government intervenes in the life of a child, that intervention is inevitably through a program within a state agency or system. The Department of Child Services provides court-ordered foster care; […]
Allen Superior Court Trauma Audit
By John McGauley | Court Executive, Allen Superior Court Few things speak to the desire to do a great job more than a willingness to accept criticism. Nothing speaks to that desire quite like actively seeking it out. In February, Allen Superior Court’s Family Relations Division did exactly that, inviting the National Council of Juvenile […]
Judges seek input on Child Support Guidelines
By Haley Loquercio, Intern | Office of Communication, Education, and Outreach NOTE: On April 2, 2019, the Domestic Relations Committee began seeking comments on proposed changes to Indiana’s Child Support Guidelines. Read the press release » In August 2018, the Domestic Relations Committee of the Judicial Conference of Indiana held a public hearing in the Indiana Supreme […]
Forever Families for Indiana Children
By Patrick McCauley | Visual Communications Specialist, Office of Communication, Education, and Outreach To celebrate National Adoption Day in November 2018, more than 30 judicial officers allowed families and press the opportunity to photograph and videotape certain uncontested adoption proceedings. The Supreme Court first issued an order authorizing cameras in court in 2012 for National […]
A New Face at the Table for Vulnerable Children and Youth
In January 2018, Terry Stigdon came into the role of Director of the Department of Child Services with a mandate to learn from the assessment of DCS which had been ordered by Governor Eric Holcomb. Tasked with leading the agency in the implementation of recommended reforms, one of her first stops was meeting with judges. […]
Dual Status in Indiana
By Hon. Vicki Carmichael | Judge, Clark Circuit Court #4 and Hon. Charles F. Pratt | Judge, Allen Superior Court A Cultural Shift Historically, two distinct and separate paths were followed in the provision of services to children who came to the attention of the juvenile justice system. The selected path was generally not determined […]
Indiana Parenting Time Calendar
Over a year ago, the Domestic Relations Committee, chaired by Judge Christopher Lee, teamed up with the Department of Child Services (DCS) to implement an online calendar tool as an option to help parents and the courts establish parenting time with their children based on the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines. DCS currently uses printed yearly […]
Indiana courts celebrate National Adoption Day
To celebrate National Adoption Day 2017, thirty-two judicial officers allowed families and press the opportunity to photograph and videotape certain uncontested adoption proceedings. The Supreme Court first issued an order authorizing cameras in court in 2012 for National Adoption Day to increase public awareness of the value of adoption. This year approximately 220 children joined […]
Child focused tools in juvenile court
Our juvenile courts have several innovative tools available to assist children and youth through the Child in Need of Services (CHINS) and delinquency processes. Courts have the new dual status youth screening and assessment tool that allows courts to better identify crossover youth and to coordinate services for youth, regardless of whether they come into […]
Lake County CASA volunteer wins award from IRTA
The Indiana Retired Teachers Association (IRTA) selected Eugene Wease from Lake County to receive the CASA Award at their Annual Representatives’ Assembly and Awards Luncheon on June 14. Each year, the IRTA recognizes an outstanding member who has served as a CASA director, staff member, or volunteer. The award was presented to Wease by Tom […]
Judiciary in Brief
Law Day in Clark County Judges, magistrates, and attorneys from Clark and Floyd counties,along with the local bar association, put on a Law Day event for kids. Students gave speeches on the reason they are “proud to be an American.” A panel of attorneys from Clark and Floyd counties selected three finalists. A student from […]
Information Sharing Guide
Mobile app provides guidance on sharing children’s records Do you know how to obtain children’s educational, court, or health records? Do you know under what circumstances you can share these records with others? There is a mobile app to help you with these complex questions: the Information Sharing Guide. The Commission on Improving the Status […]
2017 CASA Day Celebration
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers took part in a celebration at the State House on March 20, 2017, sponsored by the Indiana Supreme Court, Indiana Office of Court Services, GAL/CASA. More than 400 people from across the state clothed in blue t-shirts filled its north atrium, chanting “I am for the child” and “I […]
Canine Companions
Courthouse dogs join CASA programs to help kids in court The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program in Delaware County just added a new four-legged member to its staff. Frankie, a two-year old female black lab, started her job at the CASA program in April. Frankie is one of only two dogs in Indiana specifically […]
