A Place to Call Home

Court appointed special advocates make recommendations to judges on behalf of children in the legal system. During the holidays, they help connect families with resources to celebrate the season.

Logan Community Resources serves adults and children with disabilities. Since 1950, the organization has worked with community partners to serve vulnerable populations in the Michiana region. They offer autism services, respite servcies, wellness summer camps and more. 

Former Elkhart County magistrate Deborah Domine argues that children are not born wanting to hurt somebody. Rather, they become hurt and act out because of it. Domine says it's important for the judicial system, education system and other organizations work together to ensure children who find themselves in juvenile court don't fall through the cracks.

Youth Service Bureau is an emergency youth shelter in South Bend, Indiana. It helps at-risk children connect with safety and shelter. It also works with youth who have experienced abuse, neglect, homelessness and a lack of resources.

In this episode of "A Place to Call home," we meet Katie, a 14-year-old Michigan teen in foster care who shares her hopes of finding a permanent, loving family. Plus, Christ Child Society of South Bend Foster Hope co-chairs Laura Trippel and Susan Coulter join the conversation to share how their Foster Hope program supports local kids entering foster care. 

Benchmark Family Services is a therapeutic foster agency service for foster homes and children in Indiana, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. Laura Reffey, regional director at Benchmark Services, sits with WNDU's Tricia Sloma to talk about what foster families can expect to receive from their services.

In this episode of "A Place to Call Home," we meet Wyatt, who shares his full story and explains why he is so eager to connect with a loving, permanent family. Plus, we talk live with the President and CEO of Bashor Children's Home in Goshen to learn more about how they support children in our community who are unable to live at home. 

What actually happens when a child enters the foster care system and is in need of adoption in Indiana? WNDU's Tricia Sloma sits down with Hannah Stutzman, community engagement manager for Indiana Kids Belong. Stutzman details how the organization works with foster kids and the public to find forever family connections. 

The Indiana Adoption program is a stateide initiative that works to help children in foster care find loving, committed, safe and permanent families. Shalesta Peterson, assistant director of the IAP, sits down with WNDU's Tricia Sloma to talk about the process of the program's work and how you can get involved.

A court appointed special advocate, or CASA, focuses on protecting a child's best interests when it comes to court decision. Becoming involved typically entails meeting with a child once a month, talking with the adults involved in their lives, and attending court about once every three months. 

A Place to Call Home with Tricia Sloma features Wednesday's Child stories and live adoption interviews. Our debut episode highlights a therapy progress update on a nonverbal boy named Wyatt and an interview with James Solarek, Director of Operations at the Michiana Family Center.