Resources

The Indiana Department of Child Services was established in January 2005 by an executive order of the Governor to better care for children by providing more direct attention and oversight in two critical areas: protection of children and child support enforcement. The Department of Child Services protects children and strengthens families through services that focus on family support and preservation. The department administers child support, child protection, adoption and foster care throughout the state of Indiana. The mission of the department is to protect children from abuse and neglect by partnering with families and communities to provide safe, nurturing, and stable homes.

An Association of Children and Family Services (IARCCA) is a 501(c)(4) IRS classified nonprofit Association of concerned agencies who not only care for children and families, but also care about them. Founded in 1944, IARCCA has made a commitment to service by bringing together a diverse group of providers into a cohesive organization that is committed to the provision of quality services so that children and families may lead healthy and productive lives in our communities. IARCCA represents 112 member agencies in Indiana providing a broad array of services, including residential care, foster care, transitional/independent living, home-based services, shelter care and crisis stabilization. 

 
National Safe Place was created in 1983 as a youth outreach program by Shelter House, operated by the YMCA of Greater Louisville. The Safe Place program began in response to the many calls to the shelter from young people who did not have a way to get there. As a result, many youth trying to cope with personal or family crisis situations never reached the shelter. To address this issue, the Safe Place program was developed, designating businesses and community buildings as locations where youth could easily access help. Today, Safe Place operates in hundreds of communities across the country and is a positive collaborative program filling a void in services to at-risk youth.