Youth workers are often the unsung heroes of the youth within our communities. They have a direct impact on the lives of our youth and often wear many hats- mentor, educator, counselor, and friend. Indiana Youth Services Association (IYSA) is pleased to announce three new annual Youth Work Awards Please join us in honoring our colleagues in the field by nominating someone for these awards.  By nominating, you are recognizing an individual who is improving and shaping the lives of youth and youth workers in our state. A monetary gift will accompany all IYSA awards.

NOMINATION FORM

Media Inquiries:
Kenneth Allen
kallen@indysb.org
317-909-7159

There has been an increase in interest surrounding Human Trafficking, especially child sex trafficking, in recent weeks.  The Indiana Trafficking Victims Assistance Program is grateful for individuals desire to share information on social media. However, before you share we ask you to consider: Why are you sharing this information, is it accurate information, do you know what resources are available to help in your community, do you know what Human Trafficking looks like in Indiana, especially your local area? 

To properly combat the issue of Human Trafficking, keep in mind we must ensure we are sharing accurate information. As a community, we need to be careful when sharing posts on social media as many of these posts portray Human Trafficking in an incorrect and sensationalized way.  This is damaging to work intended to stop Human Trafficking as well as triggering to victims/survivors. Not all awareness is good awareness. 

The Indiana Trafficking Victims Assistance Program (ITVAP) focuses on issues related to Human Trafficking throughout the state of Indiana.  The goal of ITVAP is to raise awareness of Human Trafficking, increase recognition and identification of victims/survivors and to develop a statewide network of service providers for trafficked youth. ITVAP is committed to educating any and all individuals on Human Trafficking and amending the sensationalized narrative that leads to misunderstanding about the topic and ultimately a lack of care for victims/survivors.

If you want to get involved in your community to combat issues of human trafficking contact your ITVAP regional coordinator to learn more about what human trafficking really looks like in most situations and about how you can help fight trafficking in your own community by asking what your community is doing and how to get involved. By working together, we can improve Human Trafficking in Indiana.  

If you suspect a youth under 18 is being trafficked call:

The Indiana Child Abuse Hotline at 800-800-5556 and mention “Human Trafficking”

For anyone 18 and over contact:

The National Trafficking Hotline at 888- 373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to 233733           24 hour a day, seven days a week.

Additional information can be found at www.indysb.org/itvap

REGION 1
(219) 230-6797
Amie Rainfish: Lake, Porter, LaPorte,
Jasper, Newton, White, Pulaski and Starke

REGION 2
(574) 205-9497
Ian Hurst: St. Joseph, Elkhart, Marshall,
Kosciusko, Fulton, Cass and Miami

REGION 3
(574) 213-1502
Jeremy Greenlee: LaGrange, Steuben,
Noble, DeKalb, Whitley, Allen, Wabash
and Huntington

REGION 4
(317) 214-0905
Morgan Donatelli-Bow: Benton, Carroll,
Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery, Parke,
Putnam, Tippecanoe, Vermillion and Warren

REGION 5
(317) 361-2631
Jessica Herzog-Hall: Howard, Tipton,
Boone, Hamilton, Hendricks, Marion
and Hancock

REGION 6
(646) 580-7051
Laura Donatelli-Bow: Adams, Blackford,
Grant, Delaware, Henry, Jay, Madison,
Randolph, Rush, Wayne, Wells,
Bartholomew, Decatur and Shelby

REGION 7
(765) 343-9459
Elaine Banter (Bottomley): Sullivan, Vigo,
Greene, Brown, Clay, Owen, Morgan,
Monroe and Johnson

REGION 8
(812) 493-5999
Meagan Cothron: Scott, Jefferson,
Switzerland Ohio, Dearborn, Ripley,
Franklin, Fayette, Union, Jackson
and Jennings

REGION 9
(812) 204-4053
Christina Wicks: Daviess, Dubois, Gibson,
Knox, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh
and Warrick

REGION 10
(812) 267-2113
Sheila C. Bobay: Clark, Crawford,
Floyd, Lawrence, Martin, Harrison,
Perry, Orange and Washington

Para publicación inmediata 21/8/2020
Consultas de los medios:
Kenneth Allen
kallen@indysb.org
317-909-7159

stas semanas ha habido un incremento en el interés acerca de la Trata de Personas (o Human Trafficking en inglés), especialmente Tráfico Sexual Infantil. El programa Indiana Trafficking Victims Assistance Program está agradecido con todos quienes comparten información en las redes sociales. Sin embargo, antes de compartir, te pedimos que consideres: ¿Porque estás compartiendo esto? ¿Es información real? ¿Conoces qué recursos tienes disponibles en tu comunidad?, ¿Sabes cómo se ve la trata en Indiana, especialmente en tu área? 

Para combatir la trata de personas, debemos asegurarnos que la información que estamos compartiendo es real. Como comunidad debemos de tener cuidado con lo que compartimos en las redes sociales ya que mucha de esa información retrata la trata de manera incorrecta y amarillista. Esto daña el trabajo para detener la trata y también puede ser provocador y dañino para las víctimas y sobrevivientes. No toda concientización es buena concientización.

El programa Indiana Trafficking Victims Assistance Program (ITVAP) se enfoca en la trata de personas en el estado de Indiana. La meta de ITVAP es concientizar acerca de la trata de personas, ayudar a identificar víctimas y sobrevivientes y desarrollar una red estatal de proveedores para ayudar a la juventud traficada.  ITVAP se compromete a educar a todos los individuos acerca de la trata y combatir toda narración sensacionalista que lleva a malos entendidos y falta de cuidados para las víctimas y sobrevivientes.  Si te quieres involucrar para conocer como se ve la trata de personas realmente y combatir estos problemas en tu comunidad y contacta a tu coordinador regional ITVAP y pregunta ¿Qué están haciendo y cómo te puedes involucrar?

Si sospechas que un joven menor de 18 años está siendo traficado, llama a The Indiana Child Abuse Hotline al 800-800-5556 y diga “Human Trafficking” 

Para mayores de 18 años: The National Trafficking Hotline al 888- 373-7888 or manda un mensaje de texto que diga  HELP o INFO al 233733

Puedes encontrar mas información en  www.indysb.org/itvap

Contactos regionales

REGIÓN 1
(219) 230-6797
Amie Rainfish
Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper, Newton, White, Pulaski and Starke

REGIÓN 2
(574) 205-9497
Ian Hurst
St. Joseph, Elkhart, Marshall, Kosciusko, Fulton, Cass and Miami

REGIÓN 3
(574) 213-1502
Jeremy Greenlee:
LaGrange, Steuben, Noble, DeKalb, Whitley, Allen, Wabash and Huntington

REGIÓN 4
(317) 214-0905
Morgan Donatelli-Bow
Benton, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery, Parke, Putnam, Tippecanoe, Vermillion and Warren

REGIÓN 5
(317) 361-2631
Jessica Herzog-Hall:
Howard, Tipton, Boone, Hamilton, Hendricks, Marion and Hancock

REGIÓN 6
(646) 580-7051
Laura Donatelli-Bow
Adams, Blackford, Grant, Delaware, Henry, Jay, Madison, Randolph, Rush, Wayne, Wells, Bartholomew, Decatur and Shelby

REGIÓN 7
(765) 343-9459
Elaine Banter (Bottomley)
Sullivan, Vigo, Greene, Brown, Clay, Owen, Morgan, Monroe and Johnson

REGIÓN 8
(812) 493-5999
Meagan Cothron
Scott, Jefferson, Switzerland Ohio, Dearborn, Ripley, Franklin, Fayette, Union, Jackson and Jennings

REGIÓN 9
(812) 204-4053
Christina Wicks
Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick

REGIÓN 10
(812) 267-2113
Sheila C. Bobay
Clark, Crawford, Floyd, Lawrence, Martin, Harrison, Perry, Orange and Washington

Callie Main is one of the scholarship winners for the work she did to promote Make Good Decisions and the Indiana Lifeline Law at Batesville High School. Callie joined the Make Good Decisions committee this year and formed a small group at her high school, but they faced challenges initially because of similar groups in the area. However, this did not prevent Callie and her fellow students from creating fun ways to reach the students in her area. Callie lead her group to find unique ways to promote Make Good Decisions and spread awareness about the dangers of underage drinking. One event that she and fellow students established was a popcorn giveaway event. To promote the event her committee made posters and flyers, and they typed up information about Make Good Decisions and the Lifeline law to staple to the bags of popcorn. Posters were also placed on the tables so that people in line could learn while waiting. Additionally, Callie prepared a trivia game to play with the people waiting in line. Not many of the people participating were familiar with the Lifeline Law, so this was a fun and unique way to keep people entertained while also spreading education and awareness. The event was a huge success with all 300 bags of popcorn being gone and all attendees leaving educated about Make Good Decisions and the Lifeline Law.

Callie and her committee were also in the process of planning a game day in a local park to further spread awareness and education before COVID-19 occurred. Due to this, Callie was unable to hold the game day, but the plans for the event were still a fun way to engage kids and teenagers with information about underage drinking and prevention. Some of the games that would have occurred include a ball toss with goggles that simulate what it is like to be drunk, trivia focused on the symptoms and effects of drugs, and various competitive games to showcase how alcohol and drugs are not needed to have fun. Although this event was unable to occur, Callie did not let isolation stop her from trying to promote Make Good Decisions and the Lifeline Law in her community. She reached out to a local movie theatre and was granted permissions to put up a message on their marquis stating: “Suspect Alcohol Poisoning? Call or text 911. MGD IN LifeLine Law.” Callie truly appreciates the experience she has had educating and promoting awareness about underage drinking throughout her community.

Lekha Durai is one of the scholarship winners for the work she has done in promoting Make Good Decisions at West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School. Lekha was the vice president of her school’s drug awareness club REACH, and through this club she created several events to promote Make Good Decisions and the Indiana Lifeline Law. One event that she promoted Make Good Decisions and the Lifeline Law at was an ice cream fundraiser at the school’s homecoming football game. This is a yearly event that REACH puts on, but she altered the event to bring awareness to underage drinking. Lekha designed stickers advertising the Lifeline Law to place on the ice cream cups. Additionally, the first 40 buyers received Make Good Decisions wristbands. When kids and teenagers bought ice cream they also received candy if they could explain the Indiana Lifeline Law; the law was also explained to those who were unfamiliar with its purpose and function. 

Another way in which Lekha worked to promote Make Good Decisions and the Lifeline Law was through presentations given to eighth grade students. REACH members attended three health classes and taught the students about various topics including vaping, underage drinking, and marijuana usage. Lekha specifically created the slides used to teach the students about the Indiana Lifeline Law. This section of the presentation was taught subsequently with the presentation on underage drinking because of the relation between the two. Lekha made sure to include various aspects pertaining to the Lifeline Law in the slides she created. She made sure to explain how the Lifeline Law works and emphasized that underage drinkers will be protected if they cooperate. REACH educated the students on the dangers of underage drinking, but also wanted to make sure that if any of them were in such a situation that they would understand how the Lifeline Law works so they could stay safe. She also made sure to mention how the Lifeline Law can be used to protect victims of certain sexual crimes. To showcase how the law functions in real situations Lekha made sure to include a news segment from the Make Good Decisions website that explained how the Lifeline Law was used to save a student from Marian University. 

One of the last projects Lekha worked on was creating a Prezi presentation focused on what REACH members did to promote Make Good Decisions and the Lifeline Law. This presentation was created to be shared with other schools so that they could see the work that REACH members did. This presentation also included additional project ideas to inspire other schools to host their own events. 

Indiana Youth Services Association and it’s partners the Indiana Afterschool Network and 21st Century Community Learning Centers are committed to enhancing organizations’ ability to serve youth and families in need during the COVID-19.

The following guide is intended to be reference for agencies to use when helping families address the challenges they are facing during this time. It is not an all- inclusive guide but rather contains information in four areas:

     Education and Enrichment

     Social-Emotional Health

     Food/Nutrition

     Agency operations

Download the COVID-19 Agency Resource Guide

DCS continues to issue news and update guidance to program partners and stakeholders regarding many of the programs it oversees as our state responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

View the information here

IYSA is seeking bidders for the Anti-Human Trafficking Media Campaign promoting the Indiana Trafficking Victims Assistance Program (ITVAP). The goal of this campaign is to create an all-encompassing campaign to reach as many youth (24 and under) in the state of Indiana using creativity and unique media avenues with messaging that can help youth identify themselves or others that are being trafficking or are in danger of being traficked. Applications are to be submitted to Michele Whelchel (mwhelchel@indysb.org) no later than March 28, 2020.

For more information or to access the application, please click here.