Policy Update, July 31, 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).

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?

Register online for the ICHS Annual meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 27, at the Indiana State Library. Download flier.

Legislative Study Committee topics and first dates

The interim study committees of the Indiana General Assembly have been announced with first committee dates. Check calendar. Of interest to our readers are:

Education - 8/11, 9/8 and 9/29, all 1pmET; with 8/11 on special education and developmental delays as related to pre-K, kindergarten and elementary school; 9/8 on whether ISTEP should be replaced with an alternative test and other topics considered in future meetings, such as school testing, data and reporting requirements
Public Health, Behavioral Health and Human Services - needle exchange, review of many insurance issues including definitions, denials and complaints
Fiscal Policy - multi-year review of tax incentives (EITC, NAP, IDA Credits, etc.), school corporation capital projects, EDGE credits and more
Agriculture and Natural Resources - Indiana farm products
Corrections and Criminal Code - offender reentry, multiple issues related to adult protective services and protection of elderly against abuse, human trafficking, DNA samples, technology issues with sexual assault, crime and bullying
Courts and Judiciary - open adoption records, medical malpractice
Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications - broadband access
Environmental Affairs - waste management
Government - policy body cameras, annexation laws on economic development projects
Pension Management - public pensions
Public Policy - smoking, e-cigarettes, taxes and regulations, relationship to health and pregnancy
Road and Transportation - BMV issues, enterprise zone funds for transportation, railroad crossings and special group license plates
Redistricting - alternative methods of redistricting
Budget Committee - Indiana State Policy compensation relative to local departments
Commission on Improving the Status of Children - teen suicide prevention

50 years of Medicare and Medicaid

July 30 marked the 50-year anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid. Since the passage of these important programs, the poverty rate for people over 65 has plummeted

by more than two-thirds, from 28.5 percent in 1966 to 9.1 percent in 2012. And life expectancy has increased from an average of 74 in 1965 to 81 in 2013.

Medicare and Medicaid were created as an amendment to the Social Security Act. Well over 100 million Americans are covered by the two programs, helping to provide basic medical care for people with disabilities, seniors, families with children, pregnant women and low-income working Americans. Learn about Medicare and Medicaid in Indiana. Over 1.1 million seniors and people with disabilities in Indiana receive Medicare, and 1.2 million low-income children, adults and seniors in Indiana receive one of the many types of Medicaid. See FSSA's enrollment report for June.

Historical perspective: Indiana was slow to implement Medicaid, waiting nearly five years until 1970 to offer minimal Medicaid coverage. The opponents to Medicaid provided a preview to the criticism of HIP some 45 years later, calling Medicaid "federal blackmail" in 1969 as reported in the Indianapolis Star.

How many people in your own family are better off because of their coverage through Medicare or Medicaid (now called HIP in Indiana)? Celebrate better health!

Integrating financial services into existing programs

"Meet them where they are" was repeated throughout a recent training offered by the FDIC on integrating financial services. Standalone budgeting classes, financial literacy sessions and information fairs are not as effective as integrated services into existing programs.

When designing a program, we should consider:

* Assessment - Who are the clients and what do they need?

* Team - What resources already exist or could be combined with other services to support that need?

* Action - What are the steps to implement and how would we measure success?

Building Financial Capability: A Planning Guide for Integrated Services is an online resource designed to help human service organizations integrate services into other programs through a comprehensive planning process. The 200-page document also has an amazing Appendix that is worth your time. Zip to Appendix A for a summary of services or Appendix C for sample outcome measures.

Research identifies best practices with children's financial literacy

Financial literacy and skills are critical for family financial stability. Financial knowledge, self-control and a future orientation are the building blocks of financial capability.

More attention is focused on starting earlier with children--helping them learn the value of money, budgeting and saving toward a goal. Researchers identified three critical periods with the skills, attitudes and habits needed for financial capability:

Executive function in early childhood and pre-school years - Executive function is defined as the mental processes of planning, organizing and concentration. Programs that focus on future orientation, the ability to delay gratification and the ability to set goals help build core developmental skills.
Financial socialization in the elementary and middle school years. - Programs that teach basic financial skills and health financial habits such as savings, frugality and financial planning are best at this stage. Dual generation programs working with middle school youth and their parents are demonstrating success.
Deliberate decision-making in adolescence and young adulthood - Financial learning supports financial independence. For this age group, programs should focus on experience-based, practical programs that teach research skills and money management.

Repeated practice that is reinforced by adults is the key. Set goal. Work to achieve it. Repeat.

See the full research paper: Foundations of Financial Well-Being: Insights into the Role of Executive Function, Financial Socialization, and Experience-Based Learning in Childhood and Youth, published in the Journal of Consumer Affairs. The CFED also has an abbreviated summary.

Attention Employers: HIP Link can help you insure lower wage workers

One of the features of HIP 2.0 is HIP Link, a premium assistance program that can help eligible, working Hoosiers pay for their coverage through their employer's health plan. How does it work?

Employers apply online to participate. Health insurance must meet minimal essential coverage.
Employees who qualify for HIP Link must have a household income at or below approximately 138 percent of the federal poverty level ($16,436 per year for an individual and $33,865 for a family of four) and meet the other HIP eligibility requirements, such as age and residency.
An employee must be enrolled in the employer's health plan. The employer will deduct the cost of premiums charged from the employee's pay, per normal procedures. In turn, the state will reimburse the employee directly for the amount of the deduction, minus the 2 percent program contribution which is the same amount to participate in HIP Plus.

See the FAQ.

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. See our quick summary based on IaUW priorities.

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.