Great Indy Neighborhoods: Publications


Neighborhood Resource Guide	< Back to Table of Contents

4: Services
Healthy communities maintain the highest standard of health and human services. Individuals and families needing help can get direct assistance and referrals to services by calling The HELPLINE at 2-1-1 or www.imcpl.org/cgi-bin/irntop.pl. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

QUESTION - Who can help with childcare services in our community?
ANSWER - The Rainbow Book "The Rainbow Book" has a comprehensive list of central Indiana human services, including child care. Visit http://www.irni.org/.
QUESTION - Who can help improve the health of our citizens?
ANSWER - Marion County Health Department, Housing and Neighborhood Health The City of Indianapolis contracts with the Health Department to protect public health and safety and reverse neighborhood deterioration through the housing and sanitation code inspection program. It ensures that vacant properties are boarded up, repaired, or demolished according to state laws, using Marion County's Environmental Court when necessary. The Department also enforces illegal dumping laws and handles hotel/motel and mobile home inspections. Contact 221-2150 or http://www.hhcorp.org/.
ANSWER - The Rainbow Book "The Rainbow Book" has a comprehensive list of central Indiana human services, including health care. Visit http://www.irni.org/.
QUESTION - Who can help with the needs of the elderly?
ANSWER - CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions CICOA provides a wide variety of services to senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Contact 254-5465 or www.cicoa.org.
ANSWER - The Rainbow Book "The Rainbow Book" has a comprehensive list of central Indiana human services, including senior services. Visit http://www.irni.org/.
QUESTION – Who can help meet the basic needs of our neighborhood families?
ANSWER - Community Centers Many neighborhoods are served by community centers, which provide a comprehensive array of services for people of all ages. Call 2-1-1 to find a community center serving your area.
ANSWER - Faith Based Organizations The faith community plays a significant role in the development of many neighborhoods and should be taken into account when dealing with neighborhood issues and planning. Houses of worship meet the community’s spiritual needs and often provide recreational and youth programs, housing assistance, food programs and other efforts that support communities. Some organizations create separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporations to conduct community development activities, while others may partner with other community organizations. In some cases, multiple houses of worship located close to one another collaborate to create a community development corporation (CDC) to serve their shared community. For more information, contact: City of Indianapolis Faith-Based Coordinator at 327-3711. Indianapolis Center for Congregations, which helps congregations find solutions to their problems. Visit www.centerforcongregations.org. Indiana Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives at http://www.in.gov/ofbci/.
ANSWER - The Rainbow Book "The Rainbow Book" has a comprehensive list of central Indiana human services, including services for families. Visit http://www.irni.org/.
QUESTION - Who can help deal with youth issues in our neighborhood?
ANSWER - Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) CYO provides spiritual, cultural, social, athletic and other programming to youth ages 8-18 through local Catholic churches and schools. Contact 632-9311 or www.cyoarchindy.org.
ANSWER - City of Indianapolis Department of Parks and Recreation The Department is a nationally accredited park system serving the recreational and leisure needs of Indianapolis. It enforces city ordinances and state laws pertaining to parks and recreational facilities and manages public greenways. It has the power to levy general property taxes to acquire, operate and maintain park and recreation facilities, and to issue general obligation bonds. Contact 327-PARK or http://www.indygov.org/eGov/City/DPR/home.htm.
ANSWER - Faith Based Organizations The faith community plays a significant role in the development of many neighborhoods and should be taken into account when dealing with neighborhood issues and planning. Houses of worship meet the community’s spiritual needs and often provide recreational and youth programs, housing assistance, food programs and other efforts that support communities. Some organizations create separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporations to conduct community development activities, while others may partner with other community organizations. In some cases, multiple houses of worship located close to one another collaborate to create a community development corporation (CDC) to serve their shared community. For more information, contact: City of Indianapolis Faith-Based Coordinator at 327-3711. Indianapolis Center for Congregations, which helps congregations find solutions to their problems. Visit www.centerforcongregations.org. Indiana Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives at http://www.in.gov/ofbci/.
ANSWER Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) IYI serves organizations and individuals who work on behalf of children and youth. IYI is a leading source of information and tools for nonprofit youth organizations, educators, policymakers, government officials, and others who can impact the lives of Hoosier children and promote healthy youth development. Programs and services are available to youth workers free of charge or at affordable prices. Contact 396-2700 or http://www.iyi.org/.
ANSWER - Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY) MCCOY focuses on three community-identified areas that impact children: violence, civic engagement, and basic skills. Contact 921-1280 or http://www.mccoyouth.org/.
ANSWER - The Rainbow Book "The Rainbow Book" has a comprehensive list of youth services. Visit http://www.irni.org/.
ANSWER - Youth as Resources Youth as Resources is a youth development program that gives money (small grants) to youth groups to operate volunteer projects in their community. Contact 920-2560 or http://www.uwci.org/yar/.