Policy Update, May 15, 2015

Thank you for your interest and support. The Indiana Association of United Ways usually 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).

The faces of ALICE in Madison County, Indiana

Check out the fantastic series done by the Herald Bulletin in Anderson, Indiana (bottom left, Living ALICE).

For the series, reporters interviewed and followed several residents who each represent ALICE, someone who is Asset-Limited, Income, Constrained, Employed. Our 2014 report showed that in Madison County 14% of households live in poverty and 28% of households earn incomes above poverty but below the cost of living or the ALICE threshold (see Madison county data). The series profiled hardworking Madison County residents who make too much to qualify for most assistance but who still struggle to make ends meet. Several shared their stories of how they previously held better jobs with good benefits and post-recession are making less with no benefits and challenging work schedules. ALICE families survive paycheck to paycheck, at risk of falling into poverty when hours are cut, the car breaks down or a health crisis hits. View the full ALICE report.

Kudos to the reporters and editors at the Herald Bulletin for showing the reality of living ALICE.

If you missed the Legislative Wrap-Up Webinar

We have posted the 30-minute session and slides in case you missed our legislative wrap-up webinar with Indiana Coalition for Human Services held earlier this week.

Key links:

* recorded webinar with copy of slides

* ICHS summary of new laws affecting human services

* human service highlights in the budget

* IaUW Session overview by United Way priorities

Register for Regional meetings - Join the discussion

Indiana Association of United Ways and Indiana Coalition for Human Services

are planning regional meetings with human services providers. In these sessions, we will

provide updates and Q&A about the Statehouse, including how the budget and certain policies affect human services;
discuss important issues on the horizon for human services, including philosophical debates about welfare reform, drug testing, best practice responses on the HIV crisis; and
provide information about and opportunities to get involved.

Our schedule includes:

May 19 - New Albany at YMCA of Southern Indiana, 8-10amET - NOTE POSTPONED, with rescheduled date to be announced
May 27 - Evansville at United Way, 8-10amCT
May 27 - Terre Haute at YMCA, 1-3pmET
May 28 - Ft. Wayne at Brightpoint (formerly known as CANI), 11:30am-1:30pmET
June 3 - Merrillville (Lake County) at Centier Bank, 8-10amCT
June 3 - Valparaiso at United Way, 1-3pmCT
June 4 - South Bend at Logan Center, 9:30-11:30amET
June 10 - Lafayette at Lafayette Urban Ministry,11am-1:30pmET

Thank policymakers for good work!

What did your grandmother teach you about appreciation? While it is popular to criticize and offer snarky comments about policymakers, it is very important to appreciate what they do right. See how United Way Worldwide's policy team reminds us to thank our members of Congress for extending CHIP, the Children's Health Insurance Program, through HR#2 with this cool video. Forward, tweet or repost as you like.

So if you like one of the new laws enacted by the Indiana General Assembly, be sure to tell your state senator and representative how the law will positively affect your clients or community. Invite them to tour your organization and meet the children, individuals or families affected by the new law. You might even check out their votes or webpages to confirm their support.

Here are a few easy ways to thank your legislators:

1) Use our action alert to thank them through our United Way Advocacy Center if you appreciate funding for 2-1-1 or Early Education Matching Grants. (Note pages are loading slowly.)

2) Email or call your legislator directly. Use the Find Your State Legislator feature on the General Assembly website.

3) Include a note on the survey that is usually mailed to your home in late summer or early fall.

4) Attend a local event where legislators meet with constituents.

Hoosiers were helped through VITA and My Free Taxes

Zip Codes with more than 10 returns through My Free Taxes

Free Tax Preparation sites through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly sites have helped thousands of Hoosiers file their taxes for free. Free tax prep sites assist taxpayers with: filing their taxes for free, understanding the implications of not being insured, connecting with Bank On and other financial stability programs. IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers help low- and middle income earners keep more of their money, including access to Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credits. Research and interviews show that most taxpayers invest refunds in the local economy, paying for winter utility bills, car repairs, rent or groceries. Some taxpayers invest a portion of their refund in savings accounts for home ownership or education.

Here are a few results around the state:

United Way of Greater Lafayette's 50 volunteers filed 1,700 returns bringing back $1.2 million to the local community.
United Way of Howard County's volunteers filed 1,515 returns bringing back $1.9 million to the local community.
United Way of Jackson County's team helped 238 taxpayers return over $260,000 in federal refunds and $27,000 in state refunds.
United Way of Porter County's team increased the number of returns by 21% to 607 for a total of $654,093 returned to the community.
Partners in Indianapolis filed over 5,444 traditional returns with over 1,400 through My Free Taxes.

Over the last few years, more Hoosiers are filing their taxes through My Free Taxes either on their own or through computer labs with assistance. Quick initial analysis shows that 5,690 returns were filed by Indiana residents through My Free Taxes, a 25% increase over last year. The average filer is 38 years old, and the average refund was $1,714.02. Counties with the highest numbers of returns filed through My Free Taxes were Delaware, Jackson, Madison, Monroe and Tippecanoe counties.

Thank you to the volunteers and staff who helped with the 2015 tax season.

IaUW Public Policy

IaUW is a nonpartisan organization that works to advance policy principles and compromise solutions for the common good. We focus on policies that are aligned with the impact work in local communities conducted by our 61 United Ways and United Funds.

Education, so that children are prepared for and succeed in school;
Income/Financial Stability, so that individuals and families may achieve and sustain financial stability;
Health, so that individuals may access quality healthcare; and
Strong Communities, where a statewide 2-1-1 network and a strong charitable sector help communities thrive.

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

Review our public policy documents created during the 2015 session of the Indiana General Assembly, including fact sheets, testimony and bill summaries.

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.

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.