Food for THOUGHT

Children's Bureau Umbrella CEO Tina Cloer united way https://web.archive.org/web/20211025103948/https://www.ibj.com/articles/43167-youth-agency-finds-shelter-under-children-s-bureau-umbrella

United Way of Central Indiana

As long as there are human beings who weep for others' children, heroes in my world, like the ones who work for or support the Children's Bureau or agencies like ours, there is hope. There is hope that the sadness for some children will diminish, the pain will be alleviated, that health of body and spirit will be restored. Children's Bureau, Inc. is a private, nonprofit child and family services agency. It is licensed by the State of Indiana, accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children, Inc. and is an accredited member of the Indiana Youth Services Association and a founding member of the Child Welfare League of America. Children's Bureau makes agency services available and affordable to all families and children. Agency programs are funded in part by the United Way of Central Indiana, the Indiana Department of Family and Social Services Administration, individuals, and other private and public foundations and organizations. Children's Bureau offers all services without regard to race, religion, nationality, economic status, sex or handicap and is an equal opportunity employer. The Children's Bureau Auxiliary, Black Adoption Committee, Board of Directors, Foundation Board of Directors, Board of Advisors, and program volunteers generously contribute their time and fund-raising efforts to support the agency. Mission "We help Indiana children in need." Vision "To develop a healthy family for every child." Accreditations Council on Accreditation of Services for Families & Children (COA) Licensed Indiana Department of Child Services Affiliations United Way of Central Indiana Indiana Youth Services Association Child Welfare League of America IARCCA: An Association of Children & Family Services https://web.archive.org/web/20091207143908/http://www.childrensbureau.org/corp/info/about.php

Mrs. Nicholson was the only woman to serve in the 1935 Indiana State Legislature where she received world press for her "heart balm" bill, which made breach of promise suits illegal and helped pass the first social security legislation in the state. During the 1930's Depression, Roberta worked as Woman's Chair of the Marion County WPA, the job that triggered her decision to be a child advocate. Tough challenges where children were involved never daunted her. Appalled by the election of unqualified judges in the Juvenile Court and their selection of relatives and other hangers-on to their staff in the late 1930's, Mrs. Nicholson and a few others fought for change. They persuaded leaders of both political parties to nominate only qualified judicial candidates and assure that these candidates would appoint responsible persons to their staffs if elected. The Juvenile Court Bipartisan Committee became a model for judicial integrity for many years and Roberta remained constant in her support. Mrs. Nicholson was contacted in 1932 by Margaret Sanger, leader of the birth control movement, and with friends founded the Indiana Maternal Health League, now Planned Parenthood. A leader in the fight against venereal disease and a pioneer in sex education, she established the Social Health Association in 1942 and was director of the agency until 1960. Roberta directed the local unit of the National Youth Administration, and was a member of numerous community boards, including the State Board of Health, Indiana Congress of Parents and Teachers, Episcopal Community Services and Indiana's Girls' School Parole Board. In 1966, the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith named her Woman of the Year and in 1973, she was elected to the Indiana Academy of Distinguished Hoosiers. She was honored for her common sense and uncommon courage, her perseverance in the fight against ignorance and prejudice, her commitment to social justice. She is honored here for remaining true to her priority - child welfare - serving with grace, wit and wisdom. She is honored for keeping the question before us: ...after all, if we don't watch out for the children, who will? We honor Roberta West Nicholson by giving a Child Advocacy Award bearing her name each year at our annual dinner.

The Children's Bureau initiates a pilot project of a small group home for adolescent girls. Located on the east side, Garrard House, named in honor of Jessie Belle Garrard, a board member for more than 50 years, is the first group home in Indiana. 1961: In May the Bureau's name is changed to the Children's Bureau of Indianapolis, Inc. By 1969 the Children's Bureau has placed more than 30 children from different Indian tribes across the United States as part of the CWLA Indian Adoption Project. 1970: Evans House, a private home on the north side of Indianapolis, is donated to the Children's Bureau as a home for unwed mothers. It has facilities for as many as 10 girls and house parents. It also has a hospital room for emergencies. Members of the auxiliary establish one-on-one relationships with these girls through activities such as shopping trips. Evans House is an open home, meaning that it has fewer restrictions than traditional facilities for unwed mothers. It "de-emphasizes family life because most babies are put up for adoption." Adoptive homes are found for 153 children, the highest number in the history of the agency to date. The number of children available for adoption will decrease hereafter as more unmarried women choose to keep their children. The types and the number of children available for adoption have ebbed and flowed with the tide of social and cultural change. For example, during World War II the number of available infants increased dramatically as women offered illegitimate children for adoption before their husbands returned from war service. In the 1970's widespread use of birth control pills, the legalization of abortion, and the loss of the stigma attached to single motherhood resulted in fewer healthy white infants available for adoption. 1986: The Family Support Center building is chosen as a Crisis Shelter for runaway youth. The Children's Bureau assumes administration of the respite care component from the Family Support Center and continues the mission of the existing "respite care program for abused/neglected children." The Bureau also assumes responsibility for the operation of the Delaware Youth Center, a center for male adolescents who are first-time offenders. 1990: On 23 March the Children's Bureau establishes its own foundation (Children's Bureau Foundation, Inc.) to protect and manage its assets. Counseling continues to be a large part of the Children's Bureau's efforts, accounting for a total of 4,753 hours. The Bureau helps 2,085 in residential centers. A Transitional Living Program is initiated "to help young adults make an easier adjustment to life on their own." Homes for Black Children symbolized the shift of the Children's Bureau at the end of the twentieth century toward community programming. These families associated with the program went to Washington, D.C. in the 1990s for the First Stand for Children. 1992: In January the Children's Bureau merges with the Family Support Center. It develops and implements ADAPTS (Adolescent Development and Primary Treatment Shelter) and HEART (Home, Education, and Respite Team) programs. 1993: The Children's Bureau launches a residential-care program (ADAPTS Plus) on the northwest side of Indianapolis for emotionally disturbed children. 1997: Ken Phelps resigns, and Ron Duke Carpenter becomes President and CEO in July. 1998: Ron Carpenter accepted a check from Fox 59 Community Fund in 1998 for the Safe Place Satuday program.

The Indiana Birth Control League, later known as Planned Parenthood, is founded in 1932 to help married women who have two or more children plan for future children. "Born of a need" As the Great Depression tightened its grip on the United States, the money for "vulnerable" children became scarce. This made it difficult for the Indianapolis Orphans' Asylum to meet their needs. The director of the Children's Bureau, Lucille Batson, later recalled that the auxiliary to the asylum was "born of a need" to help the children. The money raised by the auxiliary often went toward expanding a child's horizon of experience or alleviating a medical problem. Over the years, auxiliary funds were used for a variety of purposes, including music lessons and instruments, orthopedic shoes, summer camp, and an international exchange program visit. Some of the money raised provided scholarships for staff members to further their education through graduate study or for them to attend professional conferences. The auxiliary has been active in other kinds of support for the Bureau as well. In 1939, the auxiliary began publishing the Reflector for foster parents, which became the official newsletter of the organization. During World War II the auxiliary organized and operated a toy-lending library on East Market Street for childcare providers, in addition to its other war-related activities. By the 1960s the auxiliary volunteers helped in the Children's Bureau's office, interviewed prospective adoptive parents, and organized foster parents and foster child activities Over the years, the auxiliary continued to grow and respond to the changing needs of the Children's Bureau. In 1992, the Children's Bureau merged with the Family Support Center, Inc. The Family Support Center had its own auxiliary, founded in April 1981 by Mrs. Carl M. Sauer. This auxiliary remains closely tied to the activities of the Family Support Center, providing volunteer service and fund-raising through various charity events. Still separate, the two auxiliaries continue to provide ongoing support that was "born of a need." 1941: World War II begins. Meeting the "physical needs" of children is not enough, according to a statement released by the director of the asylum. "All our children needed individual attention and care." Institutional responsibility for the orphanage is transferred in October to the Protestant General Orphans' Home, 1404 South State Street. The orphanage building is sold, and the money is placed in an endowment fund. The Children's Bureau moves to the Odd Fellows building at the corner of Washington and Pennsylvania Streets in December. Funds shrank for orphanages as the relief measures grew during the Great Depression. Responsibility for public child welfare cases was transferred to the Children's Division of the Marion County Department of Public Welfare. The responsiblity for orphanage care for the county's wards shifted to the Protestant General Orphan's Home in 1941. 1952: The board indicates that the press has an indifferent attitude toward the work of the Children's Bureau, except in regard to the efforts of the auxiliary. However, a Carl Sandburg radio program gives the Bureau time to recruit foster parents. There are ongoing discussions with the board of the Suemma Coleman Home about having the Bureau assume responsibility for finding homes for infants born there. 1953: The Children's Bureau moves to the new English Foundation Building. 1955: Planned Parenthood offers services for unmarried women for the first time; its services have previously been restricted to married women with two or more children. In 1955 orphans gathered for a performance at the General protestant Orphans' Home. In 1971 the name of the home changed to the Pleasant Run Children's Home. 1957: The United Fund is established from the old Community Chest, and the Children's Bureau is a charter member.