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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2 Minute Update featuring John Ketzenberger 
Newly elected to the Indiana Association of United Ways board of directors, John Ketzenberger joins us for a 2 Minute Update.
John is the President of the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute (IFPI) and also serves on our ALICE Research Advisory Council. See the section below to learn more about IFPI's recent study.
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Indiana's largest cities were affected differently by tax caps 
The Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute released The Fiscal Health of Indiana's Larger Municipalities in December. The report looks at 18 Indiana cities that represent a significant portion of the state's population and is a good economic cross-section of the state. The study shows how the combination of recession and property taxes have affected local municipal finances. Suburban cities and university communities are faring better under the property tax caps than older, industrial cities. Property tax caps have saved money for property owners, but at the expense of the finances in several cities around the state. The timing of the caps with the recession had an impact. And local option income taxes are more important to a city's budget. View the full report to learn more.
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 Weigh in on issues important to you!
Submitting comments during rulemaking periods is an important way to shape policy. State and federal agencies appreciate specific comments about possible impacts and ways to improve proposed rules. Below are a few open comment periods:
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IN Department of Insurance will hold a hearing on April 12 about a proposed rule regarding certification and registration requirements, precertification education and examinations, continuing education, duties, conflicts of interest, privacy and security of information, reporting requirements, enforcement, and other matters relating to an individual acting as a navigator and an entity acting as an application organization in Indiana. See Notice re: LSA#15-33.
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FSSA, Division of Mental Health and Addictions - related to minimum standards for opioid addiction treatment programs. See LSA #16-1, or proposed rule. Deadline: 6/30/16.
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Watch our Legislative Wrap-up Webinar 
Indiana Association of United Ways partners with Indiana Coalition for Human Services to provide a legislative webinar sessions about the full range of human service issues being covered at the Indiana General Assembly. The legislative wrap-up webinar was recorded on March 14 and highlights legislation that was passed during the 2016 short session. View the 29-minute webinar and download the presentation. Or download the ICHS 2016 Bill Summary.
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 IaUW's Session Wrap up
IaUW advocates for our members and partners at the Statehouse. Review our full bill lists. The short session started with over 800 bills filed and ended with about 200 enacted. Even though it is not a budget session, legislators found funding for roads and bridges (about $800 million), regional cities ($42 million) and public employee pensions $29 million). Bills related to education (ISTEP, teacher and school performance, reform), methamphetamine and heroin, certain crimes and property taxes comprised the majority of the bills. See our wrap-up webinar above or the General Assembly's 2016 Digest of Enactments.
Here is a quick summary related to our 2016 Priorities where testified or were active. Note that we were supportive of many more through our partner coalitions, though we may not have testified or lobbied directly.
- Education - While we were not as active in the education space this year, a few bills passed, including SB251, which creates the Indiana Out-of-School Time Advisory Board.
- Income Stability -
- We are very pleased that hardworking ALICE families will be eligible for Individual Development Accounts if their incomes do not exceed 200% Federal Poverty Level and may use their matched savings to purchase a vehicle in SB325.
- HB1340 provides a study of long-term small installment loans instead of expanding what we considered unsafe lending.
- And while they didn't make it across the finish line, we are pleased that committees heard bills about removing the lifetime ban on SNAP eligibility for people with drug felonies in their past (SB132) and about eliminating the asset limits on SNAP (SB377).
- Health
- Regarding the Healthy Indiana Plan (SB165), we testified about the value of leaving some flexibility in the program to adapt best practices about outreach, application and enrollment processes, third-party payment practices, healthcare utilization, etc.
- We are very pleased that the language to create a study about Navigator training, adequacy and capacity remained in HB1347. See related rulemaking below.
- Charitable Sector
- HB1180 creates a special process for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs) and fees in Tax Increment Finance (TIF) districts. Religious and nonprofit organizations are exempted under certain conditions.
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Third House Events and end of session updates from your legislators
Legislators may provide a final "wrap-up" at local "Third House" sessions or "meet your legislator" sessions. We at Indiana Association of United Ways have worked to maintain the calendar of Third House meetings throughout the state and have encouraged strong attendance during this short session. Check the calendar for a date and location near you. Upcoming events are being held in the following communities:
- Carroll County - 4/2, 7:30am
- Goshen - 3/19, 8:00am
- Jennings County - 3/19, 10:00am
- Madison County - 3/24, 6:00pm
- Owen County - 3/21, 7:30am
If you attend, drop us a note to share a little about your experience.
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Indiana voter registration deadline April 4 
To encourage your employees and clients to exercise their civic responsibilities, you might post this nonpartisan poster from Nonprofit Vote. Learn about how nonprofits and social service providers may help clients register through this Voter Registration Toolkit.
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Indiana Association of United Ways held its annual meeting and State Leaders Conference March 17, 2016. Highlights included:
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Una Osili, researcher from IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, opened the keynote session with insights on trends in giving and volunteering.
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Twelve conference sessions that provided opportunities for participating volunteers and staff to learn something new, network with each other and take home a best practice.
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- Recognition of retiring executives Joyce Mayhill of Cass County, Brenda Sobecki of Daviess County and longest serving executive Elizabeth Baier of Posey County (37 years).
- Recognition of retiring staff member Iverne Russell after 14 years with the association. Election of three new board members: Pamela Ottersbach of Metro United Way and filling two at-large seats: Shawn Ellis of BABE of Whitley County and John Ketzenberger of Indiana Fiscal Institute. Six board members completing one term were re-elected.
- Community Impact Rising Star award to Lake Area United Way for its three-year strategic transition to issue-focused community impact model. They listened to the community through community conversations, engaged volunteers, promoted the Ogre Story and will be aligning investments around "Working Families on the Edge of Survival."
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Bill Rieth and Keith Sarber have a little fun at the conference
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During the evening banquet, five individuals from around the state were nominated by their local United Way or United Fund for Volunteer of the Year awards and ten companies were honored as the Company of the Year. See the Volunteer of the Year program. - Officers for 2016 include
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Sarah Nahmias, United Fund of Decatur County, Board Chair;
- Ron Turpin, United Way of Allen County, Board Vice Chair;
- Richard O'Bryan, United Way of Johnson County, Secretary;
- Sue Back, United Way of Central Indiana, Treasurer; and
- Rick Davis, Past Chair, United Way of Greater Lafayette & Tippecanoe.
- Review the 2015 Annual Report.
- Staff and volunteers had a little fun as well. Staff from Elkhart County came ready for St. Patrick's Day (at right).
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  March is Disability Awareness Month
Nearly 14% of Hoosiers reported a disability, according to self-reporting on the Census (see source). In 2013, the prevalence of the six disability types among persons of all ages was:
- 2.6% reported a Visual Disability
- 4.1% reported a Hearing Disability
- 7.9% reported an Ambulatory Disability
- 5.5% reported a Cognitive Disability
- 2.7% reported a Self-Care Disability
- 5.8% reported an Independent Living Disability
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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 60 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.
Federal Advocacy Action Center - Contact your member of Congress 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.
Congress.gov - Look up bills introduced or passed in Congress.
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