Next Meeting
The Commission's next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 19, 10 a.m. to noon, at Indiana State Library, History Reference Room, 315 W. Ohio St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Latest News & Headlines
Children’s Commission releases annual report of results for Hoosier youth and families
The 2022 annual report of the Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana is now available. The report highlights ongoing collaboration across state government for the benefit of vulnerable youth during state fiscal year 2021-22.
Read the press release Read the report
Commission Supports Violence Prevention and Intervention Programs
At its August meeting, the Commission voted to support the implementation of three evidence-based violence prevention and intervention program models in Indiana, and to seek opportunities to help fund such efforts. After an 18-month study, the Commission's juvenile violence subcommittee recommended endorsement of Cure Violence, Project BUILD, and Credible Messengers for Justice Involved Youth.
Youth Justice Oversight Committee Begins its Work
The passage of House Enrolled Act 1359-2022 required the Commission to establish an oversight body to develop a number of plans, policies, and procedures with regard to juvenile justice reform. That group, the Youth Justice Oversight Committee, has been established and its first meeting will be held on June 29, 2022, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Indiana State Library, Author's Room. The meeting will be webcast.
State of the Child
The Children's Commission again collaborated with the Indiana Youth Institute to hold a State of the Child event at the Indiana State House on April 19. The event marked the launch of the 2022 Indiana Kids Count Data Book, which highlights current trends for Indiana children in health, education, family & community, and economic wellbeing.
Legislative Session 2022
The Children's Commission tracks legislation affecting children and child-serving professionals and systems. Here is a final summary of child-related bills by topic that passed in 2022.
Child Maltreatment Prevention Framework and Toolkit Available
At its February 2022 meeting, the Children's Commission received the newly launched Supportive Communities, Resilient Families, Thriving Children statewide framework and toolkit. These resources are intended to be used by local collaboratives to review community data and create and implement strategic plans to prevent child abuse and support families. They can be downloaded for free on the DCS Prevention web page.
Information Sharing Guide and App Updated and Re-Released
The Data Sharing and Mapping Committee of the Commission has completed an update to all content of the Information Sharing Guide, which can be accessed for the desktop, as well as iOS and Android devices. The new update includes foster parents as record requesters, distinguishes among health, mental health, and addictions records, and provides information on when a child may receive their own records.