Aspire’s Kids Talk resumes services after Anderson floods

Kids Talk, a child advocacy center serving Madison County, resumed services on Wednesday, Aug. 19, as a safe place where children can report abuse or neglect.

The center’s office at 814 Central Ave., Anderson, is closed until further notice due to the historic floods, and the staff would welcome any assistance.

In the meantime, Kids Talk has received the help of several Madison County agencies with space where its staff can conduct supportive interviews with children who have experienced or witnessed abuse: Alexandria Police Department, Anderson Police Department, Elwood Police Department, and Pendleton Police Department.

Kids Talk, a program of nonprofit healthcare provider Aspire Indiana Health, has long enjoyed close collaboration with Madison County law enforcement and justice agencies. Every attempt will be made to make the interview location as convenient as possible for families.

“The Madison County community has come together again in a time of adversity, as we always do. We’re so grateful to these police departments for their generous offer of space and support,” Kids Talk Director Denise Valdez said. “The floods may have temporarily closed our dedicated space, but the mission of protecting the young and vulnerable goes on uninterrupted.”

Reports of abuse/neglect can be made to the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) hotline at (800) 800-5556. Kids Talk can be contacted directly at (765) 641-8202.

Kids Talk staff were able to save some of their essential work equipment, though all the furniture in their office was lost as water levels reached approximately 2½ feet indoors.

Donations of essential items to help keep Kids Talk operating are welcome, and include individually wrapped snacks for kids, small bottles of water or juice, fidget toys, flip charts, washable markers, rewritable DVDs and sleeves, coloring books and crayons/markers, external hard drives, and flash drives. Please call (765) 641-8202 to coordinate. Please visit the Amazon Wish List and consider purchasing an item to help keep Kids Talk operating.

Monetary donations can be made directly to Kids Talk at this link.

Kids Talk/Aspire also encourages those who are able to support the many families and organizations in Madison County struggling with the impact of the floods. The Salvation Army, Heart of Indiana United Way, and other local organizations are helping with relief efforts.

For more information about Kids Talk, please visit aspireindiana.org/community-programs/kids-talk.