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).
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Apply for a Day of Service mini-grant
Serve Indiana is seeking applicants for Day of Service mini-grants. The goal of this mini-grant program is to demonstrate the power of service as a solution to community needs. Serve Indiana encourages projects that: (1) demonstrate community connections and use of local resources, (2) build capacity of local volunteer centers and national service programs through regional networking and co-planning of activities, and (3) increase national service participant and volunteer understanding and commitment. Grant application period opens February 27 with a March 20 submission deadline. Learn more.
Start planning now for National Volunteer Recognition Week, April 23-29.
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Last chance to register! United Way Day at the Statehouse March 6
We invite staff, volunteers, board members and agency partners to join our Statehouse Day. We especially encourage new volunteers and staff to visit the statehouse and meet your legislators during this important, budget session. Key advocacy topics may include pre-k expansion, the state budget, mental health access and tax issues.
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Follow along during the 2017 legislative session
The Indiana General Assembly is nearing halftime with the crossover deadline next week. The crossover deadline means that bills that have not been passed out of the first chamber have failed for this session.
Links to help you follow are below:
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Hoosier youth programs seeing success this session 
Youth advocates, including the Marion County Commission on Youth, have been able to celebrate several priorities that have received attention at the statehouse this session. Mental health and substance abuse programs have been seen as a priority by legislators in response to the drug epidemic that Hoosier communities are facing. Before the legislative session started, the State's Commission on Improving the Status of Children offered a number of recommendations to the General Assembly which helped guide the legislation that is moving now.
Yesterday, the Indiana State Senate voted unanimously to support SB62 School Substance Abuse Prevention Pilot Program and SB506 Suicide Prevention Programming. The school substance abuse prevention bill aims to allow schools whose communities have been hit hard by illicit drug use to voluntarily access funds to implement prevention programs to help youth make better choices about the use of drugs and alcohol. The suicide prevention programming bill will create a suicide prevention coordinator in the state to guide suicide prevention activities, encourage more prevention and crisis intervention services, recommend evidence-based training for licensed health professionals and more. Thank your Senator for their support.
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Legislative update webinar March 10
IaUW partners with the Indiana Coalition for Human Services to bring you updates during the legislative session. The first update webinar was recorded on January 30. View the 16 minute recording. We will continue to share updates about the progress with legislation affecting working Hoosiers, children, seniors and people with disabilities. Additional legislative update webinars will be recorded on March 10 and May 5.
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Check out our Third House / Meet Your Legislator event calendar
IaUW is tracking Third House Sessions and "meet your legislator" events across the state. These meetings are opportunities for constituents to talk to their legislators and learn about bills they are working on at the statehouse. It is important that legislators hear input from their constituents, and these events are a great way for you to connect and share your thoughts. View our Third House Calendar that will be updated regularly throughout the legislative session. Check back often for new events as they are posted. Upcoming events include:
- Boone County - March 11 at 7:30am
- Carroll County - March 4 at 8:00am
- Columbus - February 27, March 6 at 7:30am
- Crawfordsville - March 4 at 8:00am
- Elkhart County - March 10 at 12:00pm
- Evansville - March 11 at 9:15am
- Goshen - March 4 at 8:00am
- Greater Greenwood - March 10 at 11:30am
- Greater Lafayette - March 4 at 7:30am
- Greenfield - March 7 at 7:30am
- Hamilton County - March 10 at 7:30am
- Hendricks County - February 27 at 7:00am
- La Porte County - March 10 at 8:00am
- Shelby County - March 10 at 11:30am
- Vigo County - March 11 at 10:00am
If you attend,
drop us a note
to share a little about your experience.
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 Indiana FAFSA filing deadline March 10 
The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the form that students must file to be considered for federal financial aid to attend most higher education programs. In Indiana students need to file their FAFSA by March 10 to be eligible for state aid. Learn more about how to file.
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 Tax filing season continues and many Hoosiers may be able to file for free using MyFreeTaxes.com
Tax filing season for 2016 returns started in late January and will continue until the deadline on April 18. IaUW encourages you to help spread awareness that certain Hoosiers have opportunities to file their taxes for free. If a single or married couple has income less than $64,000 then they may be able to file for free using MyFreeTaxes.com. More than 70% of Hoosiers qualify to use this free, safe and secure online service. To help spread the word to co-workers, friends and clients, you may use this MyFreeTaxes flyer or post on social media. For taxpayers with income above $64,000, they may still file through MyFreeTaxes for a fee competitive with other online tax preparation software. Find more info at www.myfreetaxes.com.
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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.
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FSSA Division of Aging is accepting public comment regarding amendments to the state's Aged and Disabled waiver to increase assisted living rates and member slots.
Learn more and submit comments before the March 24 deadline.
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Office of Community and Rural Affairs and
Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority
seek public comment for the State of Indiana Annual Action Plan for 2017. The Action Plan defines the funding sources for the State's five major HUD-funded programs and provides communities a framework for defining comprehensive development planning. You may
submit comment
and complete a
partner feedback survey
before the April 1 deadline.
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IaUW Public Policy 
IaUW is a nonpartisan organization that works to advance policy principles and compromise solutions for the common good. Our policy priorities are developed and guided by our Public Policy Committee and our members, based on their programmatic work in Hoosier communities.
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Education, so that children are prepared for and succeed in school;
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Income/Financial Stability, so that individuals and families may achieve and sustain financial stability;
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Health, so that individuals may access quality healthcare; and
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Strong Communities, where a statewide 2-1-1 network and a strong charitable sector help communities thrive.
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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 - S
earch 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.
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.
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