Policy Update, August 12, 2016

Thank you for your interest and support. The Indiana Association of United Ways provides its Policy Update on "even Fridays" (2nd and 4th Fridays). Contact us if you have any questions or comments about content (past, present or desired for the future).

All IN 4 Pre-K kick-off


	Pre-K Parent, Lilly's John Lechleiter, UWCI's Ann Murtlow, ELI's Ted Maple and Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett

Indiana Association of United Ways is All IN 4 Pre-K! IaUW joined many partners including Early Learning Indiana (ELI), United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI), Eli Lilly and Company and more to show support at the Indianapolis All IN 4 Pre-K kick- off event.

All IN 4 Pre-K is a grassroots advocacy campaign that joins with passionate people and organizations to expand pre-k by showcasing high-quality pre-k programs, supporting local champions and raising the voices of families and young children.

Success Starts Early: Indiana's Roadmap for Pre-K Expansion

All IN 4 Pre-K has produced a roadmap, Success Starts Early, to guide a successful pre-k expansion. The roadmap was created with input from Hoosier families, practitioners and community leaders and it provides key facts about Indiana's current pre-k landscape and key recommendations for expansion. Recommendations include:

broadening income-eligibility requirements for families who can access pre-k;
increasing pay and education requirements for pre-k teachers;
aligning pre-k with early K-12 education to ensure continuity and long-term student success;
expanding capacity for high-quality providers to serve students; and
eliminating matching grant requirements that are burdensome and unsustainable.

Complete survey on early education funding

Indiana Early Learning Advisory Committee's (ELAC) Funding Streams workgroup is developing the 2016 report on funding available in Indiana, specifically funding that supports early learning (ages zero to five) with a special focus on preschool funding. See 2015 Funding Memo Report. The report summarized funding from several different sectors, including the philanthropic community.

Participate in this survey today to help ELAC better understand the amount of funding that the philanthropic community is currently investing in early education and pre-K. The survey results will help shape the 2016 ELAC Funding Memo that will be released early fall.

Impact of key human services programs in Indiana

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities recently released state-by-state fact sheets of the safety net's impact on assisting low-income individuals and families. The fact sheets use the latest government information available on certain human services programs like Social Security, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and more. The figures show that from 2009 through 2012, these programs reduced poverty by more than half in 41 states, and reduced child poverty by more than half in 43 states.

Findings from the Indiana fact sheet include:

safety net programs lift roughly 1.1 million Hoosiers above poverty and provide health coverage to 45% of children;
these key human services programs reduce the poverty rate from 29% to 12.3%;
two working family tax credits, the EITC and Child Tax Credit, lift an estimated 160,000 Hoosiers out of poverty; and
SNAP lifts an estimated 220,000 people above the poverty line and assists about 380,000 children each month.

Many of Indiana's United Ways and Funds are supporting families on their path to financial stability which includes those below poverty and those above poverty, but below the basic cost of living, who we call ALICE. ALICE is an acronym that stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. Learn more about ALICE and look for new data coming soon.

Connect with your Member of Congress during the August recess

Members of Congress began their summer recess on July 18 and they won't be returning to Washington until September 6. This is a great time to engage your Members through invitations for site visits, meetings with district staff, participation in town halls or community conversations and other public events.

Check out this video from United Way Worldwide for tips on how to connect with Members of Congress during the August recess.

Legislative study committee calendar

During the legislative session many interim study committee topics are recommended by the General Assembly. The meetings allow experts in the field and state agencies to share information about the current state of issues in Indiana in preparation for the next legislative session. In late May, the Legislative Council announced the topics to be studied in the interim before the 2017 session.

Upcoming committee meetings include:

Agriculture and Natural Resources - August 24 on properties maintained by DNR and maintenance needs
Code Revision - September 19 on 2017 technical corrections bill
Corrections and Criminal Code - September 28, October 5
Courts and the Judiciary - August 30 on civil rights issues related to gender identity and sexual orientation
Education - August 15
Elections - August 16 presentation regarding the 2020 Census and redistricting
Employment and Labor - September 8
Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications - September 29 on reports from the IURC, OUCC and SUFG
Fiscal Policy - September 28 on fiscal needs of certain municipalities, food desert grant and loan program, review of United Way of Central Indiana's early childhood education return on investment study; October 5 on the tax incentive review, Medicare/Medicaid home and community based services
Government - August 23 on public purchases, local government financing; September 20
Senate Select Committee on Immigration Issues - August 17, September 21, November 10
Panel on Alternatives to the ISTEP Program Test - September 13, October 11, November 15
Pension Management Oversight - August 31, September 14, October 19
Public Health, Behavioral Health and Human Services - August 18 on heroin use, treatment and recovery, employment first program
Public Policy - September 27 on Indiana alcohol law; October 11 on suggested changes for IN alcohol laws; October 25 on daily fantasy sports
Redistricting - September 19, October 17
Roads for a Stronger Safer Tomorrow Task Force - August 18, September 29
Roads and Transportation - July 26 on special group license plate applications

Check the interim committee calendar for updates.

Bicentennial update


	Bison Field at the Indiana State Fair features 25 bison from across the state. Vote for your favorite!

Indiana's 200th year has been packed with fun bicentennial events and projects across the state. IaUW partnered with the Indiana Bicentennial Commission to coordinate the Bison-Tennial Public Art Project. Find a bison near you!

The Bicentennial Torch Relay will start in Corydon, Indiana on September 9 and will conclude in Indianapolis on October 15. Torchbearers were selected for this special honor in every county and include many long-time volunteers and community leaders. Follow the trail and look for local community celebrations.

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 in Indiana.

Department of Education, will hold listening sessions to gather input for Every Student Succeeds Act state implementation.
FSSA Division of Aging, will hold regional stakeholder meetings to share key components of the final No Wrong Door planning grant. Learn more.
FSSA Division of Aging, is seeking public input on the amended Statewide Transition Plan. Submit comments by 8/26/16.
FSSA Division of Mental Health and Addiction & Department of Correction, will host the Indiana Annual Recovery Month Symposium (INARMS) to bring together mental health, substance abuse and criminal justice professionals to interact and share ideas. Learn more about 9/26-9/27 event.
Department of Insurance, is doing a study concerning the current capacity, training and barriers to navigators who provide assistance to individuals applying for health insurance coverage. Take the survey by 8/17 if you are a navigator or application organization.
State School Bus Committee, DOE, will hold a hearing on rules related to child alert systems, contents of first aid kits and optional rear stop arms. See LSA #15-426. Hearing on 9/6/16 at 9am.

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 60 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, including fact sheets, testimony and bill summaries.

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 - 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.

Congress.gov - Look up bills introduced or passed in Congress.