Children's Bureau, Inc. - Success Stories

Success Stories

In a community where so many children and families rely on the generosity of others, Children’s Bureau is grateful for your support and belief in our mission: Hope and help for Indiana children in need.

As you are celebrating your successes this year, please remember those who struggle daily by making a generous donation. You have an opportunity to bring hope to a child by supporting the vital services provided by Children’s Bureau’s committed staff.

Your donation will ensure our continued commitment to serving the most vulnerable children and families in our community.

Thank you for your generous donation.

Believe… together we can change a child’s tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Ron D. Carpenter
President / CEO

A testament to the power in
believing in a better life.

At a recent gathering at the Evans House Group Home, Rusty celebrated his transition from group living to independent living. Rusty had called Evans House his home for over four years. The Marion County Department of Child Services initially referred him to the program after an unsuccessful period in a foster home. He had been removed from his mother’s home due to allegations of neglect and abuse.

Rusty entered the program as a hostile and aggressive pre-adolescent. He struggled with being respectful to teachers, staff members, and other authoritative figures. He did poorly in school and demonstrated no desire to improve.

In time and through constant structure, counseling and dedication from the staff, Rusty turned his life around. He began to show leadership, became a role model to his peers, and joined JROTC at his high school. He is considered the best science student at his school and has been encouraged to take advanced science and math classes next year.

He has worked three seasons with Children’s Bureau’s Pro-100 Program, and is currently employed by a local supermarket. Rusty plans to join the Navy after graduation.

He is a success story and a testament to the power of faith and believing in a better life.

Once angry
and defeated.

Now happy
and joyful.

Imagine a life filled with rage and pain, this was David's world.

David, born cocaine positive, was left in a shelter by his mother at 8 months. David was placed in the care of relatives where he was abused and neglected. Eventually he was placed in a foster home and then adopted. Unfortunately, this was not a happy ending.

As David grew older, his rage intensified and carried over into all areas of his life - family, friends, school, etc. It became too much for the adoptive parents to manage and at age 8, he was turned back over to the system. David was then placed in the Children's Bureau Retreat program which is a residential facility. It was here David received the care he needed and through patience and perseverance, staff members were able to help David begin working through his anger and abandonment issues.

His rages decreased and he began to smile more often. David began to express a desire to be part of a family. David is now in a loving foster home and is anticipating his adoption. He has gone from being angry, defeated, and depressed to happy and joyful, spending his days laughing, playing and enjoying time with his loving family.

A young mother studying
to become a nurse.

In the spring of 2007, five girls from the Vivian Smith Teen Parenting program graduated from high school. One young woman's story stood out among the others. Bobbi, at sixteen discovered she was pregnant and by winter of 2006, the middle of her junior year of high school, she became the mother of a little boy. She was very motivated to complete school and continue her education, however her circumstances were making that very difficult.

She enrolled in the Vivian Smith Teen Parenting program where she received childcare, transportation, tutoring, and financial assistance when her family needed it most. Through Bobbi's persistence and dedication to a positive future, she is now enrolled in college where she is studying to be a nurse.

She has found a home and works part-time. While she says college is challenging, she remains dedicated to reaching her goals and credits her success to the support and encouragement of the program.