Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce > Ribbon Cuttings > Southeastern IN Voices for Children

Southeastern IN Voices for Children

Voices for Children Opens Batesville Office

The Batesville office of Southeastern Indiana Voices for Children, which serves kids in Ripley and Jefferson counties, officially opened Feb. 14 in the RomWeber building at 4 S. Park Ave. (use the door on Park near East Pearl Street and at the top of the stairs go down the hall on the left to the office on the left).

The nonprofit’s other office is at 217 E. Main St., Madison.

Executive director Tonya Ruble-Richter and Ripley County volunteer coordinator Brittany Watson are working out of the Batesville office at least two days each week. “Our hours in the Batesville office will vary, depending on team meetings, court hearings and volunteer staffings.”

 Ruble-Richter reports Watson is “amazing, but she is leaving us soon to pursue her master’s degree in school counseling, so we are currently seeking a full-time person for this position,” preferably a county resident. “Later in the year, we plan to apply for more federal grant funds and, if successful, we will be bringing on more full-time staff for Ripley County. We are determined to serve every child and are working in every capacity we can to accomplish this.”

In county courts, Court-Appointed Special Advocate volunteers become the voices for kids who allegedly have been abused and neglected.

“We were thrilled to see so many turn out for our ribbon cutting today!” she said late Wednesday. “The support from the community about our new office in Batesville has been amazing.” Retired Circuit Court Judge Carol Taul stopped in at the celebration. According to the director, “He said that he is happy to see the growth in the program and thinks we’re doing a great job …. He saw the importance of CASA before all of us, and his support means a lot.”

“The Facebook post about our Batesville office opening was, by far, the most liked post we’ve ever had at Voices.”

She observed, “Even though we are covering two counties, with two different DCS (Department of Child Services) offices and two different court systems, we are all on the same team with wanting more for these children.”

The next CASA volunteer training class is on two Fridays, Feb. 23 and March 2, from 5:30-9 p.m.; and two Saturdays, Feb. 24 and March 3, from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Batesville office. All meals, drinks and training materials are included.

“We currently have eight volunteers registered for this group,” Ruble-Richter says. “We’d love to increase this number and serve more of these children. Persons interested in being advocates can contact her at tonya@voicesforchildren.net, 812-274-0877 or 812-599-2630, or apply on the website at www.voicesforchildren.net.

 

Story covered by: Batesville Herald Tribune