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 at all. Tho … [Read more...] about Kinship Caregivers
Children's Commission
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; the Division of Mental Health and Addiction offers … [Read more...] about Collaborating for the Children
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. Early regular meetings with Wayne County Judge Darrin Dolehanty and Monroe County Judge Steve … [Read more...] about A New Face at the Table for Vulnerable Children and Youth