Day of the Child
This past President’s Day, over 500 Hoosier youth used their day off from school as an opportunity to participate in civic engagement activities at the Indiana Statehouse. Known as “Day of the Child,” this effort is organized annually by the Commission on Improving the Status of Children, the Indiana Youth Institute, and the Marion County Commission on Youth.
Included in the day was a morning of speakers such as non-profit leaders, legislators, and youth advocates; a reading of the official “Day of the Child” proclamation from Governor Braun’s Office; and a State of the Child address from IYI to unveil their 2026 Kids Count Data Book. Dozens of youth-serving organizations were also on hand, each of them with opportunities for attendees to continue their engagement journey into the future. The day wrapped up with opportunities to watch legislative committee hearings and observe live voting in Indiana’s House and Senate.
CISC is a three-branch, statewide commission aimed at improving the status of children in Indiana through systemic collaboration. The commission works across the branches of state government and studies issues regarding children and families, reviews and makes recommendations concerning legislation, and promotes information sharing and best practices. CISC provides leadership on best practices for engaging youth, families, and caregivers in our state policymaking processes. Day of the Child is an important component of this work, along with integrating lived-experience voices directly into the commission and other state agencies.
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CASA Day
Indiana’s GAL/CASA Network, legislators, and invited guests met at the Statehouse on February 24 to celebrate CASA Day through fellowship and thoughtful words delivered by special guest speakers. Volunteer GALs and CASAs serve Indiana’s most vulnerable children by advocating for a child’s best interests in court. This year, CASA Day highlighted “Advocacy Full Circle,” how CASA volunteers shape the futures of the children and communities they serve.
Chief Justice Loretta Rush opened the event by celebrating the overall successes of volunteer GAL/CASA programs and sharing personal accounts of seeing CASA volunteers make a difference in court. Representative Victoria Garcia Wilburn gave gratitude and encouragement to the CASA programs, highlighting the great advocacy work she sees in her communities and across the state. Kalob, a former foster youth from Harrison County, spoke passionately about his connection to his CASA volunteer and how his advocacy inspired him to give back to his community as an adult. Finally, CASA Volunteer David Penoff from Johnson County, shared insights into what being a CASA volunteer means to him and how older youth benefit from the stability a CASA volunteer can provide in their time of struggle.
In 2025, over 2,600 volunteer GALs and CASAs, supported by their program directors and staff, devoted nearly 300,000 hours to serving nearly 20,000 children. Indiana’s GAL/CASA programs work tirelessly to find creative funding solutions, serve more children, recruit and retain more volunteers, and reduce the number of children waiting for an available advocate. Despite the rise in child welfare cases opened, these efforts have resulted in a decrease in the number of children awaiting an advocate going into 2026.
For more information, contact [email protected]