• A new base funding of per child will transition from $4,587 per child to $5,088 per child. 
• The complexity index which is the formula that provides additional funding to low-income students will change most dramatically. Schools will receive an additional support based on the number of children receiving SNAP or TANF or who are foster children instead of the number of children receiving free or reduced lunch.
• SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as Food Stamps. The maximum income eligibility is 130% of federal poverty level (FPL), or $25,389 annual income for single parent with 2 children. Note that most SNAP recipients may not have assets that exceed $2,250. 
• TANF stands for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, commonly called welfare. A single parent with 2 children may be eligible for TANF if annual income does not exceed $7,104 (which is about 36% FPL). 
• A single parent with 2 children could qualify for reduced price lunch with annual income up to $36,130 (185% FPL). 
• Kindergarteners will be counted as a full student--rather than half a student--and will be included in the funding formula--rather than through a grant program if the kindergarten is an all-day program.
• Schools will receive additional $1,000 in honors funds per child for the number of students graduating with honors diplomas. In the second year of the budget, schools will receive an additional $1,400 for honors students who are on SNAP, TANF or who are foster children. 
• Schools will also receive additional special education funding depending upon the number of students with different levels of severity of need.

IaUW observations. 

1. The number of participants on SNAP and TANF has been dropping as the economy recovers. (See FSSA reports.) SNAP and TANF have much lower income thresholds closer to poverty, whereas the free and reduced lunch threshold is at 185% of the federal poverty level. 
2. SNAP and TANF targets families in or near poverty, whereas Reduced Price Lunch program also helps ALICE families, working families who earn above poverty and still struggle below the cost of living.
3. Schools are actively engaged in helping enroll children in free and reduced lunch, but are not as engaged in helping educate families about SNAP and TANF. 
4. Many funders and other systems have been based on the number of children in a district on free and reduced lunch. For example, some United Ways have required funded agencies to report the number of children on free and reduced lunch programs in schools or neighborhoods where they provide after-school programs, child care or financial coaching.

Thank you to all who attended our regional legislative update sessions. We have posted the materials including the slide presentation, ICHS Legislative Summary, SNAP ABAWD info, HIV info and sample posters. We are working with IN Coalition for Human Services to complete research on the Frequently Asked Questions from the sessions, which we will post in the coming weeks. 

• Individual giving still comprises the overwhelming majority of giving (72%), in contrast to corporations (5%), foundations (15%) and bequests (8%). 
• While there were increasing number of "mega-gifts" above $500 million, the largest growth came from individual giving. 
• Americans continue to give to religion more than any other category, with religion absorbing nearly one third of all giving. However, as people are less likely to identify with a religion or attend worship, giving to religion is on the decline. 
• Giving to human services has increased only modestly since 2006.
• The fastest growth occurred in two categories:  arts/culture/humanities  and environment/animal welfare.  

Conversations are underway around the state to address the growing Hepatitis and HIV health crisis. Leaders in counties with high risk factors are considering strategies to reduce the spread of Hepatitis C and HIV. Indicators of potential risk include the number of Hep-C cases, the prevalence of injection drug use, drug addiction and overdoses. Communities are experiencing the effects of increasing IV drug use through law enforcement actions, emergency room visits, and referrals to Child Protection Services.