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Policy Update, August 1, 2014 
Thank you for your interest and support. The Indiana Association of United Ways provides its Policy Update on "odd Fridays" (1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays). Contact us if you have any questions or comments about content (past, present or desired for the future).
Charitable Sector Priority Area - Take Action
Register today for storytelling workshop on Wednesday, August 20 
Storytelling is an effective tool in fundraising and advocacy. Effective stories and language make the difference in communications. 

Nationally recognized storyteller Kim Weitkamp will offer a training workshop designed for nonprofit human services on August 20, 10am-2pm, thanks to the Indiana Coalition for Human Services and the Indiana Association of Community Economic Development
 
Please register for this event. The workshop is part of the ICHS Annual Meeting.
  
 
Health Priority Area Governor Pence makes case for HIP 2.0 
Earlier this week, Governor Pence met with the new HHS Secretary, Sylvia Burwell, to discuss Indiana's proposal for Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0 (aka HIP 2.0). 

If approved, the plan is expected to provide health insurance for over 400,000 Hoosiers. See the FSSA presentation to the State Budget Committee from June or learn more about HIP 2.0.

And as expected, the State released information that the current HIP program has reached its budgetary cap last month with 53,000 Hoosiers enrolled. No additional applications will be processed at this time. See release.
 
2-1-1 IN211 connects thousands of Hoosiers with health insurance
Indiana 211 Partnership released its six-month reports about its Healthcare Project.
See reports on Caller Results and System Results

Surveys of callers mirror national trends--that the process of learning about and enrolling in health insurance takes time, benefits from a trusted assister and requires multiple contacts. 
Income Priority Area
Updated Your Money, Your Goals empowerment tools available
Couple with Bank Advisorfinancial empowerment tools have been updated and are available for download. The Toolkit includes 14 modules with easy-to-use one-pagers. Training materials are available in English and Spanish. Social services staff can use the toolkit to help clients:
  • Make spending decisions that can help them reach their goals
  • Order and fix credit reports
  • Avoid tricks and traps as they choose financial products
  • Make decisions about repaying debts and taking on new debt
  • Keep track of their income and bills
  • Decide if they need a checking account and understand what they need to open one
Many thanks to Indiana's United Ways and key financial stability partners who helped test the tools in 2013 in partnership with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Your experience and feedback helped to improve the tools.

Education Priority Area
Five counties were selected for pre-K pilot
 The pre-kindergarten pilot will be coming to Allen, Jackson, Lake, Marion and Vanderburgh counties in 2015, the Governor announced last week.  

The map at the right shows the 18 counties that were pre-selected for eligibility. Community leaders assembled "statements of county readiness," illustrating resources, current and predicted capacity in quality programs and collaboration among partners. The five counties in red were selected for the pre-k pilot. 

Indiana Family and Social Services Administration is working on the infrastructure to implement the pilot, including the required longitudinal study for students, a new kindergarten readiness assessment and the program accountability system, guidelines for fundraising activities and modifications to interagency IT. See press release or learn more about the pre-k pilot
At the StatehouseLegislative Study Committees
StateCapitolDay The Legislative Council has appointed the interim study committees. Current meetings scheduled on the calendar include:

Check the calendar on a regular basis. Most meetings will be held in late summer or early fall.

advocate
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.

NEW - Community Report Card - Check out key indicators in Education, Income and Health for your neighborhood, county or region.

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.

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