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
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.
Seeking Youth and Family Speakers for October 2021 Virtual Event
The Commission is planning a virtual Family and Youth Engagement Summit (Family YES!) on October 22-23, 2021, and is looking for older youth and parents willing to share their stories of interacting with state and local programs and services. The family and youth speakers will help professionals to think about ways to improve their practice and make it more family-friendly. See the call for speakers and apply to be a speaker by September 19.
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.