Next Meeting
The Commission's next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 20, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Indiana State Library, History Reference Room.
Latest News & Headlines
Registration Now Open for Family and Youth Engagement Summit (Family YES!)
Family YES! is a unique and free opportunity for family-serving professionals and policy makers to hear directly from families and youth about their experiences with state programs and services and reflect on ways to put families' experiences at the center. Day 2 is an opportunity for families to build advocacy skills. Read the event summary, check out the agenda, and register here.
Children’s Commission releases annual report, reaffirms commitment to overarching principles
August 18, 2021 - The 2021 annual report of the Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana is now available. The report highlights the ongoing partnership between all three branches of state government to safeguard and support Indiana’s children—especially its most vulnerable.
Juvenile Justice Review Phase II Launched
The Commission's Juvenile Justice Reform Task Force met on August 16, 2021 to kick off a deep dive into Indiana's youth justice data and a look at the research on what works, with a goal of reaching consensus on legislative and administrative policy changes by spring 2022. Read the press release and see the task force member list.
Commission Issues New Resource on Child Trauma Screening and Surveillance
At its August 2021 meeting, the Commission approved a new tool for those who are interested in screening children for trauma or ACES. The guide includes tips, cautions, and links to vetted screening tools.
Legislative Session 2021
The Children's Commission tracks legislation affecting children and child-serving professionals and systems. Here is a summary of laws passed in 2021 affecting children and familes.
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.
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.