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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Kindergarten Camps are underway around the state
Imagine the first day of kindergarten for a child who has never been in a classroom, formal child care or preschool. In many communities, 40% of incoming kindergartners are not ready for school. Teachers share with us the challenges of working with children who have never held a pencil or crayon or book, do not know colors or ABCs and are not able to recognize their own printed name. To help children and families, twenty-four of Indiana's United Ways and Funds are spearheading Kindergarten Camps this summer for over 1,500 children.
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| | Meet the future class of 2028 from Blackford County! Thanks to IU Health for donating books, backpacks and t-shirts. |
Each "camp" is held in a school classroom with a certified teacher and 15-25 children. Volunteers support the classroom with special activities, reading time, art, music, meals or simply extra hands for the teacher. Prior camps have demonstrated significant gains for children in pre-literacy, social and behavior skills. Parents report excitement about attending school. Check out recently highlighted camps:
A full summary report will be available in the fall after all camps have submitted their reports. See the yearend report for 2014.
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Help with outreach to ABAWDs
 Effective July 1, Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents
(ABAWDs) receiving SNAP who are 18-49 are required to work 20 hours per week on average or to participate in approved employment and training activities. Approximately 50,000 Hoosiers are impacted by requirements.
We are calling on partners around the state to help our neighbors who might otherwise fall through the cracks. Consider if your organization may.
- Educate your staff and volunteers about SNAP ABAWD rules
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- Post a flier in your waiting room, food pantry, community center, grocery store or common area.
- Refer individuals to 2-1-1 for more information.
- Consider becoming approved as a Community Work Experience Program (CWEP) site where ABAWDs may volunteer some hours each week to meet their requirement. Community, faith-based and government organizations may participate by completing the agreement, submitting a job description for each position and, once approved and a volunteer is placed, completing a regular timesheet and periodic evaluation. Contact us for more info.
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Register to attend ICHS Annual Meeting:
Legislator panel will reflect on the future for human services
 With an eye toward the Indiana Bicentennial, a panel with members of each of the legislative caucuses will offer their perspectives on the future of human services at the annual meeting for the Indiana Coalition for Human Services.
How will programs and services for children, adults, people with disabilities and seniors evolve in the next 2, 25 or 100 years?
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 FSSA reports fast enrollment in HIP 2.0
The Medicaid Advisory Committee held a hearing on Thursday, July 9 to receive public comments on the implementation of HIP 2.0. FSSA provided an update about enrollment. Highlights:
- 300,378 applications were processed since January 27, including 170,000 non-disabled adults and HIP members who were transitioned.
- 289,254 are considered eligible as of July 1.
- 70% of participants are in HIP Plus; 30% are in HIP Basic.
- 1,900 new healthcare providers accept HIP.
- Marketing campaign kicked off June 15 (order your materials).
- HIP Link for assistance with employer-sponsored plans kicked off July 1.
View the slide presentation. A line of providers and advocates praised the smooth and fast HIP 2.0 implementation, the collaboration of partners, the responsiveness of FSSA staff and key features of the program. Three organizations offered constructive comments related to:
* case management and consumer education;
* presumptive eligibility capacity;
* number and distribution of in-person assisters/Navigators, including Spanish-speakers;
* data availability and analysis;
* minority enrollment at a rate proportional to eligible; and
* low-wage workers whose income changes frequently along the eligibility threshold.
FSSA plans to hold an annual hearing to receive public comments every July.
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2-1-1 connects thousands of Hoosiers with healthcare options
Indiana's 2-1-1 network is raising awareness about health insurance options, screening callers for healthcare options and referring to HIP, the Marketplace and navigators for in-person assistance. See IN211 Healthcare Project reports about results and geographic distribution for the last nine months.
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Weigh in on "No Wrong Door" and other aging and disabled services
The IN Division of Aging is requesting consumers and providers to participate in a survey that will help shape its No Wrong Door system with long-term care services. See letter and participate in the survey that should take 10-15 minutes.
Participate in public forums held between July 22 and August 21 to provide input about long-term services in Indiana including: telemedicine, program and policy options for long-term services where demand exceeds capacity, Medicaid reimbursement for skill nursing and approaches to managing construction of skilled nursing care. See notice with dates and locations.
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Gallup poll: percentage of uninsured in the U.S. drops to 11.4%
According to Gallup, the percentage of the uninsured adults 18 and over has dropped from 18% to 11.4% in a little over a year. This is the lowest percentage since 2008, raising the question of how low the percentage will go. See the poll.
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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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