Policy Update, February 7, 2014

Thank you for caring about sound public policy in Indiana. Contact us anytime with your feedback or questions.

Lucinda Nord, 317-921-1394 or cell 317-502-8504

Register for United Way Day at the Indiana Statehouse on Feb. 18

United Way leaders from Franklin County waited to meet their Representatives in 2013.

Volunteers and staff of United Ways and key partners will meet with legislators on Tuesday, February 18, 2014.

We are inviting early education partners from funded agencies and coalitions to join us for this day as we advocate for quality child care and early education.

Check out the flyer or see photos and video from last year.

Celebrate "2-1-1 Day" on February 11

Indiana's 2-1-1 Centers answered over 422,000 calls and enabled more than 245,000 database searches by web users in 2013. The graph below illustrates the range of needs expressed by callers. Top needs included help with housing, utilities, food and income supports. View 2013 highlights or a special IN211 report on healthcare needs.

Child care and pre-k bills move to Senate

Important child care and pre-k bills each passed out of the Indiana House and are now before the Senate. IaUW is working with many early education advocates, including business leaders, to standardize common sense health and safety rules for child care, to ensure taxpayer funds are being used to provide safe, research based, quality early education programs, and to increase pre-k options

HB1004 Early Education Vouchers - The "pre-k pilot" bill aims to provide low-income children with vouchers to attend high-quality school-based or community-based pre-kindergarten programs. A priority of Governor Pence and Speaker Bosma, this bill passed in the House on 1/16 with a 87-9 vote. HB1004 is scheduled to be heard in Senate Education Committee on Wed, 2/12.

HB1036 Child Care & Development Fund Eligibility - This bill ensures that taxpayer funds are being utilized at quality child care providers that meet health and safety requirements. See HB1036 Summary and Grid. The House passed this important legislation on 1/28 with a 71-24 vote. The bill moves to the Senate Health Committee and is scheduled to be heard on Wed, 2/12. Improving the quality of child care paid with taxpayer funds is our highest policy priority.
Review our fact sheet on Child Care in Indiana.
The Center for Education& Career Innovation and the Office of Management & Budget released their comprehensive policy review and fiscal impact report, Indiana's Pre-Kindergarten Initiative.

Economics of Early Education Summit on February 19

United Way of Central Indiana is hosting the "Economics of Early Education Summit" on Wednesday morning, Feb. 19. Learn how high-quality early childhood education strengthens both the economy and the workforce. Join nationally recognized economist Robert H. Dugger, Ph.D., for a conversation about return on investment. Dr. Dugger will be in Indianapolis, and WFYI will stream the event to multiple locations throughout the state. There is no cost for admission, though registration is required for the Indianapolis and Ft. Wayne locations.

View the informative video The Raising of America: Are we Crazy about our Kids?

Indiana General Assembly is in Session

The "short session" of the Indiana General Assembly has begun and will conclude by March 14. Check out the new Indiana General Assembly website and the links most used by our readers:

See our IaUW bill list. Note this list will change throughout the session.

Attend a "Third House" session with your legislator(s)

State legislators hold "Third House" or "Meet Your Legislator" sessions throughout the legislative session. Legislators share the latest updates from the Statehouse and usually take questions and feedback from constituents. IaUW updates the Third House calendar in two formats: a clickable calendar with map links and a downloadable document. Are you aware of other sessions? Email us.

Register for the Legislative Update Webinar or View January Session

IaUW partners with Indiana Coalition for Human Services (ICHS) and Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network (NRN) to provide three webinars throughout the legislative session. Sessions require pre-registration and will be held on Thursdays, 3pmET/2pmCT. Participants receive related documents. All staff and volunteers in human service organizations are invited to register through the links below:

February 20 - Mid-session update provides an overview of bills that "crossed over" to the second chamber.
March 20 - Post-session wrap-up explaining newly enacted laws.

View the January 23 session starter recording or view the slides. The first webinar provided an overview of introduced bills and ways to advocate.

52 Days Left of Open Enrollment in Marketplace

Hoosiers have 52 days remaining to enroll in the health insurance Marketplace. Navigators are available to residents of all 92 counties to help Hoosiers learn about and enroll in a Marketplace insurance plan. Many Americans are unaware of the requirement to carry insurance or the options to help make insurance more affordable. Ways you or your organization can help:

If an organization,

* place flyers in your waiting room

* host an educational and enrollment event at your facility

If an individual,

* talk with family, friends and neighbors and

* visit the IN211 Outreach and Enrollment Event Calendar to learn about the events near you.

IaUW Public Policy

IaUW is a nonpartisan organization that works to advance policy principles and compromise solutions for the common good. We focus on programs and policies that help:

children prepare for and succeed in school;
individuals achieve and sustain financial stability;
individuals access quality healthcare; and
communities thrive, including a strong 2-1-1 network and charitable sector.

Our policy priorities are developed and guided by our Public Policy Committee and our IaUW members, based on their work in Hoosier communities.

Frequently Requested Links / Documents

iauw.org - Learn about the Indiana Association of United Ways, current trainings and conferences and the ways we support local United Ways/Funds, partners and communities.

IaUW Policy / Advocacy info - Review and download IaUW Policy Priorities, Third House calendar, bill lists, fact sheets, talking points and testimony.

Advocacy Action Center - Contact your member of Congress or State Legislator, provided through our partnership with United Way Worldwide.

IaUW Policy Update Archive - Read prior issues, special articles and key documents produced by IaUW related to public policy and advocacy.

IN211.org - Search for human service information available through the referral database or by calling 2-1-1. Download reports about resources, needs, gaps and trends from Indiana 211 Partnership.

NRN Calendar - Register for high-quality and affordable training for nonprofit staff and volunteers by the Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network.

Funding and Other Opportunities - Explore current requests for proposals, funding and recognition opportunities.

Indiana General Assembly - Check the hearing or floor schedule, watch a live or recorded hearing or floor session and look up your legislators.

Library of Congress - Look up bills introduced in Congress. Note that the THOMAS site will be maintained through 2014 and fully replaced by Congress.gov.