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).
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 Time is running out to
register for Regional Sessions
Indiana Association of United Ways and Indiana Coalition for Human Services
are holding regional meetings with human services providers. The first sessions were already held in Evansville, Terre Haute and Ft. Wayne this week. In each session, we
- 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 of remaining sessions includes:
- 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 8 - New Albany at Hope Southern IN, 11am-1:30pmET
- June 9 - Indianapolis at Interchurch Center, 9-11amET
- June 10 - Lafayette at Lafayette Urban Ministry,11am-1:30pmET
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Legislative Study Committees announced
Scores of topics were recommended for interim study during the legislative session. The Legislative Council met May 28 and recommended topics and committee membership. Actual legislators and lay leaders will be determined and posted in the coming months. Here is a sample of interest to human service providers: * Education will study testing and reporting requirements, special education for developmentally delayed children and ISTEP. * Environmental Affairs will study solid waste management districts and water distribution systems related to White, Wabash and Ohio River basins. * Government will study additional exemptions on open records and how info is used (police body cameras, videos on private homes, medical info). * Public Health, Behavioral Health & Human Services will study needle exchange programs, their effectiveness in reducing disease transmission in injection drug use, criminal penalties for drug use and paraphernalia and problem solving courts. The Committee will also review in depth insurance complaints, claim denials and experimental treatments.* Public Policy will study smoking in bars, casinos and private clubs, e-cigarette taxation and regulation and the impacts of a cigarette or tobacco tax increase.
* Roads and Transportation will study use of enterprise zone money for public transportation, blocked railroad crossings, BMV operations and special group license plates.
* Code Revision will prepare technical corrections to SEA 441 (tax matters) and SEA500 (education deregulation), among other codes. * Special Committee on Redistricting will explore alternative methods for redistricting for Statehouse and Congressional legislative districts.
* Budget Committee is to review pay discrepancies in the State Police Department.
An interim study committee provides opportunity for legislators to study an issue in depth before the next legislative session. It meets about three times during the summer or fall before issuing a written report by Nov. 1. Bills or policies that are recommended by an interim study committee usually have an increased chance of being heard and passed during the legislative session.
IaUW's Policy Team will monitor many of the topics above and will provide detailed updates on the tax incentive review, as Earned Income Tax Credit, Tax Credit for the Elderly and sales tax on food, prescriptions and medical devices are scheduled for review in 2015.
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 Unemployment rates, ALICE families and competing views
The reality remains that most of our Hoosier neighbors are working very hard. Far too many households are Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed (see our report). ALICE families earn above poverty but below the cost of living. Why? Much of the job growth is in positions that typically pay less than the ALICE threshold and/or offer less than 40-hour weeks. See the list of most frequent jobs.
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 SNAP ABAWD Rules Effective July 1
About 50,000 recipients of SNAP received letters last week informing them of new work requirements for continued eligibility. If a person is identified as an Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD), he or she will be required to participate in 20 hours of sanctioned work activities per week or risk losing their benefits. SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and is formerly known as Food Stamps.
Generally, a person is identified as ABAWD if s/he is 18-49 years old, not medically certified as unfit to work, not pregnant and not in the home with a minor child. See sample letter from FSSA or FAQ.
SNAP ABAWD rules were in effect prior to the recession and are being reinstated now that the economy is starting to recover. Note that SNAP ABAWD work requirements are different from work requirements for other programs. For example, the TANF IMPACT program requires 35 hours weekly of sanctioned employment and training activities. SNAP IMPACT program is voluntary. Certain HIP 2.0 participants are encouraged, but not required, to work through the new Gateway To Work program.
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 Legislative session summaries
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Summer vacation, reflections and dreaming of the future
Summer often offers time for personal, professional and organizational reflection. Nonprofit leaders are encouraged to think critically about the extent their activities and strategies are achieving their missions. United Ways and philanthropic funders are also challenged to evaluate their activities and investments and to envision a brighter future. Check out recent blog posted with Annie E. Casey Foundation called Admitting Failure: Learning from Our Mistakes in Philanthropy to prompt some thoughts.
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540 children to be served by early education matching grants
FSSA announced the Early Education Matching Grants (EEMG) for the 2015-2016 school year. Twenty-one (21) high-quality early education providers will serve 540 children in 14 counties. See news release.
Note that this is different from the On My Way Pre-K pilot and serves children in counties other than the 5 pilot counties.
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 IaUW Public PolicyIaUW 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.
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Education, so that children are prepared for and succeed in school;
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Income/Financial Stability, so that individuals and families may achieve and sustain financial stability;
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Health, so that individuals may access quality healthcare; and
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Strong Communities, where a statewide 2-1-1 network and a strong charitable sector help communities thrive.
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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 - S earch 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.
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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Copyright © 2013. All Rights Reserved.
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