Latest News & Headlines
Next Meeting
The Commission's next meeting will be on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, from 10 a.m. to noon, online.
The State of the Child
The Children's Commission partnered with the Indiana Youth Institute to present the annual "State of the Child" event on January 26. Watch the event, and download IYI's Kids Count Data Book.
Resources for Equity, Inclusion, and Cultural Competence.
At recent meetings, the Commission has approved an equity guide for decision-makers, a resource packet on hiring an equity director, and a vetted list of trainings on equity and related topics. All of these resources can be found on the Tools & Resources page of this web site. Please send any feedback or requests for technical assistance to the Commission executive director.
Legislative Session 2021
The Children's Commission tracks legislation affecting children and child-serving professionals and systems. You can download a sortable spreadsheet of bills, which is current as of April 15.
Statement on Appropriate Use of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire
At its October meeting, the Commission approved a position statement making clear that ACEs questions are helpful for population surveillance and prevention planning, but should not be used for individual screening or diagnostic purposes.
Annual Report
The 2020 annual report of the Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana is available. The report highlights the collaborative actions of the Commission over the past fiscal year to safeguard and support Indiana’s children—especially its most vulnerable.
Infant Mortality
Indiana's infant mortality rate declined from 6.8 to 6.5 per 1,000 babies in 2019, the lowest rate in Indiana's history of tracking infant deaths. The Black infant mortality rate declined from 13 to 11 per 1,000. Learn more.
Juvenile Justice Review Gets Underway
The Commission's preliminary review of Indiana's juvenile justice system began with a task force meeting on September 30. Read the announcement to juvenile justice stakeholders.
Legislative Wrap-up
Here is a summary of the bills that passed in 2020 that could have an impact on children and families.