September 29, 2008

Hello Voters! The voter registration deadline is fast approaching. In order to vote in the November 4th General Election, you must register by October 6th. Below are some helpful links in determining whether you need to register and the form to complete. Remember you only need to register if you have not done so previously or if you have moved since you last voted. Need to find out if you are registered? http://www.indianavoters.com/PublicSite/Public/FT1/PublicLookupMain.aspx?Link=Registration Need to find out where to go to vote? http://www.indianavoters.com/PublicSite/Public/FT1/PublicLookupMain.aspx?Link=Polling All you need to answer the questions through the websites above is the name of the county you live in, your first and last names, and your date of birth. Lastly, do you need to register or have clients that are interested in getting registered? The voter registration sheet can be printed off of the internet and mailed in. http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/pdfs/50504.pdf The Children's Bureau Advocacy Team ------------------- See our Privacy Policy: http://www.childrensbureau.org/html/terms_of_use.cfm#privacy

September 23, 2008

Legislative Update

An important and urgent legislative update from the Child Welfare League of America

The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 was passed by the Senate last night, and will now go to the President for his signature!

For the first time, federal foster care assistance will be available to kinship and relative caregivers.
Also, over time, eligibility for federal adoption assistance will no longer be tied to the non-existent Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program.

This is an historic moment for foster children and families.
We congratulate Congress on their effort!

The kinship benefits and breaking the link to the old AFDC program are major steps forward and necessary as we strive to improve the child welfare system.

The legislation was introduced by Representatives Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Jerry Weller (R-IL) in the House. Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking member Charles Grassley (R-IA) are leading the effort in the Senate.

Kinship care is recognized as an effective way to increase stability and permanency for children who cannot stay with their parents. Living with relatives such as grandparents or aunts and uncles provides safety and a loving environment.

Language in the bill over time de-links eligibility for adoption assistance to the old AFDC program. This will make all special needs adoptions eligible for federal assistance and will encourage many more adoptions.

Other significant reforms in the legislation include opening federal training resources to private non-profit child welfare agencies, providing Native American child welfare organizations with direct access to federal foster care and adoption assistance, and providing states the option of extending foster care eligibility for you up to age 21 from 18.
Also included in the legislation are improvements regarding education and health services for children in the foster and child welfare system.

The legislation will mark a significant turn around in support for our most vulnerable children, youth, and families. We call on the President to sign this bill as soon as it arrives on his desk.

September 16, 2008

Election Day is right around the corner and the Indiana Debate Commission is holding three debates to allow the Gubernatorial candidates an opportunity to discuss their initiatives and ideas and answer questions from fellow Hoosiers. This is a perfect opportunity to learn about the candidates and make an informed decision on Election Day. The first debate will be tonight, September 16th at 8:00pm. You can listen to the debate live on WFYI (90.1 FM) or watch it on the Skywatch Weather channel. The other two debates are as follows and will also be on the same radio station and television station. September 23rd, 2008: In Merrillville October 14th, 2008: In Bloomington For more information about the scheduled debates you can visit: www.indianadebatecommission.com

September 11, 2008

ACTION ALERT

CONTACT YOUR U S CONGRESSMAN TODAY!

Action Needed:
Call Your Member of Congress and Urge Them to Pass Child Welfare Reform for Children and Their Grandparent or Other Relative Caregivers!

Background:
Yesterday, September 10, 2008, the Senate Finance Committee passed the Improved Adoption Incentives and Relative Guardianship Support Act of 2008. The passage of this legislation out of committee will allow for the negotiation process to continue over the difference between the Senate bill and the House bill, the Fostering Connections to Success Act sponsored by Representatives Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Jerry Weller (R-WA).

The House could act on this legislation in the next few days! Both bills:

• Extend funding to tribal governments
• Reauthorize the adoption incentives program
• Provide for Title IV-E funding of kinship placements
• Require states to have agreements in place that will allow a foster child to remain in school or get immediate enrollment in a new school if that is not possible.

Once differences are worked out, it's possible that final legislation would also include a phased-in de-link for adoption assistance, making all special needs adoptions eligible for federal assistance.

Urge Congress to ensure final passage of legislation to promote permanent families for children and youth in foster care through adoption and relative guardianship, support older youth preparing to leave care, and offer first time protections and assistance to American Indian children.

It is important that House and Senate Bills to improve outcomes for children and youth in foster care get enacted in September before Congress goes into recess.

Information secured from Child Welfare League of America and Generations United.

July 31, 2008

"Update"

Foreclosure Bill Includes Important Changes for Low-Income Rental Programs

Today, the President signed The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, H.R. 3221, which Congress passed last week. For a housing-related bill, the press has given unprecedented coverage to this legislation. But if your information has come only from the mainstream media, you may not be aware that the final bill includes a number of provisions concerning rental housing, in addition to measures designed to prevent foreclosures on owner-occupied homes and increase home sales. This e-mail highlights the provisions of particular relevance to persons interested in the housing voucher and public housing programs. It also includes a brief description of the 5 additional funding streams the bill provides for affordable rental housing.

Housing Voucher Program Changes

The bill includes a number of changes concerning project-based vouchers and also for tenant-based vouchers used in units that receive Low Income Housing Tax Credits that had been included in the House and/or Senate versions of the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act. (The Senate Banking Committee may still consider the remaining provisions of S. 2684 in September.)

Project-based Voucher Changes

Public housing agencies currently are allowed to "project-base" -- or attach to particular structures -- up to 20 percent of their vouchers. Families have the right to move with the next available tenant-based voucher after a year. H.R. 3221 includes the following changes to the statutory requirements governing project-based vouchers (section 8(o)(13) of the U.S. Housing Act), as part of sec. 2835(a)(1) of the bill. These changes should make it easier for PHAs and owners to use the PBV option to provide affordable rental opportunities in mixed income settings. (As a matter of law, these changes should be effective once the bill is signed. HUD should issue a notice suspending the conflicting regulations until revised regulations can be issued. This is what HUD did on most of the more comprehensive project-based voucher statutory changes enacted in late 2000.)

Measures the 25 percent limit on the share of units that may received project-based voucher (PBV) assistance based on the "project" rather than per "building," as is now the case. (The bill does not change the current exceptions to the 25% limit, which does not apply to projects that primarily assist the elderly, people with disabilities or families receiving supportive services.)

The initial contract term may be up to 15 years (matching the LIHTC compliance period), and PHAs and owners may agree at any time, including in the initial contract, to extend the term for up to 15 years at each expiration subject to certain conditions. (The initial term had been 10 years and HUD rules permit an extension agreement only in the last year of any term.)

PHAs may set reasonable rents up to 110 percent of the HUD Fair Market Rent in units with Low Income Housing Tax Credits, even if this rent level exceeds the maximum rent under the LIHTC program, and may allow PHAs to agree in advance not to reduce the rent below the initial rent during the term of the contract.

Permits PBVs to be used in cooperatives and in elevator buildings.

Streamlines subsidy layering and environmental reviews for PBVs used in existing buildings, and eliminates duplicative reviews when a state or local agency has conducted a subsidy layering review as part of allocating tax credits or grant funds for construction or rehabilitation.

There are additional PBV changes included in the House or Senate SEVRA bills that would further improve the PBV option. For more information on the SEVRA provisions, see http://www.cbpp.org/3-10-08hous-tables.pdf starting at page 16.

Use of Tenant-based Vouchers in Tax Credit and HOME-funded Units

The bill makes it easier to use vouchers in units that have received funds under the LIHTC or HOME programs, and protects tenants against extra out-of-pocket costs for such rentals. Section 2835(a)(2) of the bill includes the following:

For tenant-based vouchers used in units receiving Low Income Housing Tax Credits or HOME funds, PHAs do not need to make a separate determination of the reasonableness of the rent charged if it is at or below the rent for similarly assisted units not occupied by voucher holders; such rent levels are deemed to be reasonable.

Prohibits use of vouchers in such units if rent exceeds both the voucher payment standard and the rent charged to non-voucher holders. In effect, this provision allows owners to continue to charge section 8 holders a higher rent than is paid by tenants who do not receive rental assistance, but only if it is reasonable (based on comparable unassisted units) and if the tenants do not have to pay more than 30 percent of income for rent and utility costs.

Public Housing

Disaster Relief -- Section 2804 of the bill eliminates a provision of the U.S. Housing Act that FEMA had used as justification for not assisting public housing agencies whose buildings were destroyed or damaged by the 2005 hurricanes in the same way as FEMA provides assistance when other government-owned buildings are damaged by declared natural disasters. While this change won't help Gulf Coast agencies affected by Katrina and Rita, it will help prospectively.

Vouchers and Public Housing

PHA Plans -- Section 2702 of the bill exempts most "small" agencies from the requirement to submit an annual plan to HUD. Small agencies are defined as those that administer a total of no more than 550 vouchers and public housing units. About 3,000 PHAs---3/4 of all agencies that administer housing vouchers or manage public housing--- are affected by the change. These agencies serve roughly 500,000 families. (Agencies designated as "troubled" or with a failing score under the Section 8 Management Assessment Program are not exempt.) Exempt agencies still must certify annually that they are complying with civil rights requirements; hold a public hearing annually on any proposed changes in their discretionary policies, and establish and consult with a resident advisory board. PHA groups had long sought such a change, to reduce administrative burdens on small agencies. The language adopted preserves key civil rights and resident participation requirements, and applies to fewer agencies than would have been exempted by a bill filed last year, which would have exempted agencies with 500 or fewer public housing units and any number of vouchers. Nonetheless, this change could make it more difficult for residents and other stakeholders to obtain key information concerning agency operations.

Eligibility and Rents for disabled veterans -- Section 2608 of the bill excludes from the definition of income for purposes of eligibility and rent determinations lump sum payments of veterans disability benefits. This provision treats such payments like Social Security disability lump sum payments.

Increased Funding for Affordable Rental Housing

The bill increases funding available to states and localities for affordable rental housing through 5 different funding streams. Some of these increases could be used to preserve public and other assisted housing, as well as to increase the affordable housing supply.

1) Grants to States and Localities to Redevelop Foreclosed Properties -- By November 2008, states and localities should receive their share of the $3.92 billion provided by the bill to stabilize neighborhoods hard-hit by foreclosures. Funds may be used to purchase, manage and resell foreclosed and abandoned properties. These funds can only be used to assist individuals and families with incomes at or below 120 percent of area median income and 25 percent of the funds must be used for households with incomes at or below 50 percent of area median. Estimates of each state's share of funds are at http://www.saveamericasneighborhoods.org/fact_sheets.asp. States and localities have a great deal of discretion in how to use the funds, but they must act fast: funds must be committed within 18 months, so it is important for communities that are not already well along on planning how to use the funds to work quickly. HUD is directed to ensure "to the maximum extent practicable and for the longest feasible term," that the homes in which funds are invested (for rental or sale) remain affordable consistent with the eligibility and targeting requirements. Thus, these funds represent a long-term investment of at least $1 billion in housing affordable to very low-income families and individuals. At the discretion of state and local grantees, public housing agencies are eligible to use funds provided by the bill to purchase properties, which they could continue to operate as affordable rental housing. (PHAs could use vouchers to make rents affordable to the lowest income families.)

2) Affordable Housing Trust Fund -- The bill establishes a permanent Affordable Housing Trust Fund administered by HUD. Beginning in 2010, funds based on a share of new business conducted by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be available for affordable housing activities. About $300 million per year will be available when the assessment is fully effective in 2012. In the future, Congress may designate other sources for the Trust Fund. After reservation of funds for administrative costs (which may not exceed 10 percent of annual grants), states must use at least 90 percent of remaining funds for production, preservation, rehabilitation and operation of rental housing (with 10 percent available for first-time homebuyers), and 75 percent of rental funds must benefit extremely low-income households (with incomes at or below 30 percent of area median income or the federal poverty line). Remaining funds may be used for households with incomes up to 50 percent of area median. Funds will go to states based on a formula largely specified in the bill. AHTF funds may be used for preservation of public and assisted housing. For more information, see the website of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, which spearheaded the campaign to establish the fund, at www.nlihc.org.

3) Capital Magnet Fund -- The bill also requires Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to set aside funds for a Capital Magnet Fund administered by the Treasury Department. This fund will receive half the amount allocated to the AHTF. Treasury will award funds through a national competition to Community Development Financial Institutions or non-profits that develop or manage affordable housing. Funds may be used for affordable housing and economic development/community revitalization activities. It appears that such funds could be an important component of the type of activities funded by the HOPE VI public housing revitalization program.

4) Increase in Low Income Housing Tax Credits -- The bill increases the amount of tax credits allocated to states in 2008 and 2009. For states that receive per capita allocations, the allocations would go up by $0.20 per capita. This amounts to an increase of 10 percent in 2008, and just under 10 percent in 2009. The bill also increases the minimum allocations provided to small states by 10 percent in both years.

5) Increase in Housing Bond Authority -- The bill provides an additional $11 billion nationally in 2008 authority for states to issue tax-exempt bonds to support rental housing or homeownership. The added authority can be carried forward through 2010.

LIHTC Data Collection

Section 2835(d) of the bill creates a new requirement that state agencies administering LIHTCs submit data annually to HUD on the characteristics (including race, ethnicity, family composition, age, disability status, receipt of vouchers, income, and rent payments) of tenants living in each LIHTC development. The bill also requires HUD to establish standards for data collection, provide technical assistance to states, and make data publicly available each year. Previously, little information has been available on the characteristics of the families assisted through the LIHTC.

Other LIHTC and Multifamily Housing Bond provisions

The bill also contains a number of changes to the rules governing low-income housing tax credits and multifamily housing bonds. Importantly for projects seeking to make rents affordable for the lowest-income tenants, several of these increase the amount of tax credit that can be provided per unit or allow credits to be used more easily with other forms of federal housing assistance. One such provision allows states to provide "basis boosts" increasing credit amounts by 30 percent for projects (excluding bond financed projects receiving 4 percent credits) outside the limited areas -- "Qualified Census Tracts" and "Difficult Development Areas" -- where the boosts are now permitted. The bill also provides that the full range of federal rent and operating subsidies can be combined with tax credits without reducing the credit amount, and eliminates a prohibition on using tax credits in projects receiving Section 8 Mod Rehab assistance. For a full summary of the bill's LIHTC and multifamily bond provisions, see
http://www.nixonpeabody.com/publications_detail1.asp?ID=2368

A detailed (25 page) summary of all the provisions of this nearly 700 page bill is available on the website of the Massachusetts Citizens Housing and Planning Association, www.chapa.org

July 29, 2008

Action Alert!

CALL WASHINGTON TODAY!

Ask your Senators to act NOW to reauthorize the Adoption Incentive Program and help support adoption and relative guardianship

Today, more than 127,000 children and young people in foster care are waiting to leave the system – for good – to join permanent families. Every day without a permanent family feels like a lifetime to a child.

The bipartisan Adoption Incentives Program has helped more than 443,000 children leave the uncertainty of foster care to join adoptive families – but unless Congress acts now, it will expire on September 30, 2008. The House acted unanimously to reauthorize the Adoption Incentives Program in late June and included provisions to provide relative guardianship as an additional way for children to exit foster care for permanent families. Please join us in urging the Senate to act before August recess begins.

Senators on the Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over the nation’s foster care system, will play a key role in promoting safe, permanent families for our most vulnerable children.

FREE CALL IN LINE OPEN:
Monday and Tuesday, July 28 and 29
1-888-686-8191

Urge the Senate to reauthorize and improve the Adoption Incentives Act and support adoption and relative guardianship

Simply follow the prompts, enter your ZIP code, and you will be connected directly to the offices of your Senator.

PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD BY forwarding this flyer to your friends, family, colleagues and networks and encouraging others to take action today.

June 27, 2008

Legislative Update

An important and urgent legislative update from the Child Welfare League of America

You worked hard to include a moratorium on harmful Medicaid regulations in the war supplemental appropriations bill, and Congress has responded!

Last night—following the House's lead—the Senate passed a war supplemental bill (H.R. 2642) that includes delays on six restrictive Medicaid regulations issued by the Administration.
The Rehabilitative Services and Targeted Case Management (TCM) rules—two rules that would have directly and negatively impacted the child welfare and foster care systems—will both be delayed by the war supplemental until April 1, 2009.

With such strong bipartisan support and the White House involved in the bill’s negotiations, this bill is expected to be signed into law by the President. Please stay tuned to the Children's Monitor for the latest updates on upcoming Presidential action!

THANK YOU!

This most recent vote and the likely outcome of the Medicaid rules moratoriam being signed into law are a true testament of your advocacy and commitment.
Because of your work, many children and youth in our nation’s foster care system will continue to receive the physical and mental health services they so desperately need.

CWLA’s members have been at the front of the pack, urging Congress to delay the Rehab and TCM rules for several months.
You have made the calls, written the letters, and participated in Congressional hearings and staff briefings.
Important partnerships have also been formed as we advocated alongside other impacted national organizations, particularly those representing the community mental centers and the broader mental health and disability communities.
This collaboration and your personal efforts have achieved numerous victories along the way. Last December, this coalition successfully saw a six-month moratorium on the Rehab rule signed into law, and last April, we helped achieve a veto-proof vote in the House on H.R. 5613 that would have delayed all seven Medicaid regulations, including rehab and TCM.
With inclusion of longer moratorium in the war supplemental, the delays will continue into a new Administration.

CWLA sincerely thanks and applauds our members and other concerned parties for your continued support on this matter.

By raising your voice, Medicaid Rehab and TCM services will remain strong streams of care for children, youth, and other vulnerable populations.

May 16, 2008

Email your Members of Congress Today

Urge Them To Do More to Ease the Pain of the Recession!

The economic downturn is placing a tremendous squeeze on households.
The rising cost of food and energy is placing basic needs out of reach for many.
In the last year, food prices have soared with some food staples experiencing a double-digit increase: milk is up by 26 percent, and eggs by 40 percent. Home energy costs are up too. Heating costs have risen 47 percent in the last four years. There were 1.2 million gas and electric shut-offs last year alone.
Meanwhile, the economy is losing thousands of jobs and wages are not keeping pace. Over 3 million workers are expected to exhaust their unemployment benefits this year. Today, there are 700,000 more out of school and out of work youth than in 2000, a 19 percent increase.
And, people who are working are seeing their hourly and weekly wages lose ground.
Today, the House approved funding for critical domestic needs, including extending unemployment insurance benefits and stopping harmful Medicaid regulations. The Senate will likely vote next week. Send your Members a letter online here:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/125/campaign.jsp? campaign_KEY=24346.

Voice your support for funding these domestic needs, but also stress that more forms of recession relief are needed, like providing Food Stamps and other nutrition and home energy aid; and preventing cuts in Medicaid, Head Start, and child support. (More on effective ways to boost the economy and help people in need can be found in Towards Shared Recovery: Congress must do More to Reverse the Recession).
Also, tell us how the recession is affecting you and/or the people in your community. Your stories will help us build a stronger case for the need for federal action. We want stories from personal experience, increased need in the agency where you work, or local press accounts about the squeeze in your community. Post your recession stories here:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/125/blog/index.jsp?blog_KEY=513.

Thank You!

May 1, 2008

Remember the Primary Election May 6th is your only opprotunity to vote for School Board

As you rush to the poles on Tuesday keep in mind that voting for the School Board in Marion County is a non-patisan election.

The decision is actually made on Primary Election Day NEXT Tuesday May 6th!

To find out more info about your school board candidate see the links below.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080501/NEWS0502/805010470

To find out more additional info on your candidate see the link below. You can access by entering you address.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=NEWS0502

May 1, 2008

Overwhelming Victory in the House, but Trouble Brewing in the Senate The House of Representatives voted 349 to 62 to pass a bill (H.R. 5613) to block Medicaid regulations that would reduce access to rehabilitative, case management and school-based services. The Administration has threatened to veto this bill, but the vote in the House far exceeds the number needed to override a veto. However, the bill faces tough opposition in the Senate where Republicans are being asked to sign on to a letter opposing this legislation. Our ability to block these harmful regulations depends on convincing Republicans NOT TO SIGN this letter. Please contact our Indiana Senators TODAY and urge them NOT TO SIGN THE LETTER opposing legislation to place moratoria on the controversial Medicaid regulations, but to instead cosponsor the Senate bills that would block these regulations entitled the "Economic Recovery in Health Care Act" (S. 2819) and (S. 2578).

April 24, 2008

Legislative Update!

An important and urgent legislative update from the Child Welfare League of America

Thanks to you, the U.S. House voted yesterday to delay harmful Medicaid regulations proposed by the Administration!

The vote was in effort to block the Bush Administration from cutting federal spending by at least $15 billion over the next five years. Democrats and Republicans voted together to impose a one-year moratorium on seven rule changes that would shift significant costs to the states while reducing access to health care.

CWLA, in collaboration with other concerned communities, played an instrumental role in this victory to reject cuts to Medicaid and to protect access to health care. Thank you to all that called your Representative!

The President has already threated to veto the bill. Please stay tuned to the Children's Monitor for the latest updates on upcoming Senate action!

BACKGROUND

Over the last year, the Administration has proposed a series of regulations that would threaten access to health care and other needed services for our most vulnerable citizens, including children and youth in our nation’s foster care system, people with physical and developmental disabilities, and those with mental illness. The regulations would also shift significant cost to states and localities in a time of serious economic downturn. These regs must be delayed and reconsidered.

A similar bill (S. 2819) to the House bill (H.R. 5613), which CWLA also supports, is being championed by Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), and Edward Kennedy (D-MA). In addition to delaying the seven Medicaid regulations contained in the House bill, S. 2819 would also postpone the August 17, 2007, policy directive issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), restricting states' abilities to cover children in families above 250% federal poverty level through their SCHIP programs, and a rule granting significant discretion to the HHS in reviewing decisions of the Departmental Appeals Board.

Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.
Tell-a-friend!

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for Child Welfare League of America.

April 7, 2008

Action Alert!!! Many of our families are eligible to receive the 2008 tax rebate check from the federal government; however, certain things need to be completed in order for the families to receive the rebate that they are entitled to. Individuals who might not otherwise be required to file a 2007 tax return will need to file a return this year to receive the stimulus payment. The return must show at least $3,000 in qualifying income. In other words, low-income workers who had at least $3,000 in earned income in 2007 but do not otherwise earn enough to be required to file a federal tax return need to file a return in order to get the stimulus payment. Likewise, Social Security recipients, veterans and retired railroad workers who might not otherwise need to file a tax return must do so to receive the economic stimulus payment. Below are some resources for families to use to complete their 2007 return, so they can receive their rebate check: The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides help to low- and moderate-income taxpayers. Call 1-800-906-9887 to locate the nearest VITA site. John H Boner Center 2236 E 10th St Indianapolis, IN 46201 Mon., Tues., Wed. 10am-7pm; Sat 10am-3pm starting Jan. 19, 2008 Southeast Community Center 901 Shelby St Indianapolis, IN 46203 236-7400 *221 (Call for Appt) Appt: Mon. 4pm-7pm; Sat 9am-3pm (will start taking appt. Jan. 28, 2008) Closed Mar. 22. Program ends at this location April 14, 2008. The IRS and several of its partners in the Free File Alliance can now accept returns submitted by people who have no legal requirement to file other than to receive their payments. People in this category should use only the five companies listed on the IRS Free File - Economic Stimulus Payment web page.

February 22, 2008

"ACTION ALERT"

As the legislature considers property tax reform in HB 1001, we must remind them that any increased sales tax would have a substantially greater negative impact on hard-working low income Hoosiers, who spend a larger percentage of their meager income on goods which may be subject to sales tax. If the sales tax is increased, as it is in HB 1001, we must protect low income workers.

Indiana is already a high tax state for low income workers and a lower tax state for high income taxpayers! Increasing sales tax without mitigating the negative impact on poor workers would make this even worse!

One way to address this situation is to increase the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). EITC is a federal tax break that provides targeted relief to low & moderate income Hoosiers and encourages self-sufficiency for these working men and women. It is a “Hand Up” (not a hand-out) that helps working families escape poverty. EITC supplements wages – it is a refundable tax credit, meaning workers can get back more than they actually paid in taxes.

Indiana has a state EITC that is 6% of the federal credit. HB 1001 as it passed the House increases the Indiana credit to 9% of the federal credit. That increase was removed in the Senate Tax & Fiscal Policy Committee. Please contact your legislators and ask them to put the increased EITC back in HB 1001 during conference committee! We must not accomplish property tax reform at the expense of hard-working, low income Hoosiers!

January 16, 2008

"Action Alert"

Good morning all, we worked very hard this fall to insure HB1165 would receive a hearing and a vote in this session. As you recall, this bill provides an opportunity to,
1) Sibling Rights to Visitation
2) provide shelter services to individuals 16-18 without parental consent,
3) extends the notification of a child who enters a shelter from 24 – 72 hours,
4) reiterates that a underage but emancipated teen does not need consent to receive shelter services.

Because of all of the focus on property taxes, the push to have it heard is starting to fade.

Rep. Summers is your legislator so we urge you to take the time to encourage Rep. Summers, Chair of the Family, Children and Human Affairs committee to schedule a hearing.

Representative Vanessa Summers Phone 317-232-9600
email: h99@in.gov Asst. Benjamin Moore

Committee Members: Day, Bardon, Bartlett, Simms, V. Smith, Walorski

Sample note to use:

Dear Representative Summers:

I am writing to ask for your support of HB1165, Homeless, foster youth, and education authored by Rep. Dennis Avery by scheduling a committee hearing to give those youth impacted by the bill a chance.
Children’s Bureau, Inc supports Rep. Avery’s provisions that would allow youth in foster care or with siblings in foster care to have rights to visitation with those siblings.
As a youth service bureau and a member of the Indiana Youth Services Association, we wholly support this bill.

We are especially concerned about provisions that would allow us to serve ‘unattached’ youth 16-18 years old who ordinarily would not have access to emergency shelter services without the permission of a parent or guardian. Because these youth are not attached to families, they too often become homeless, putting them in unsafe situations.

We would also like to see the notification of parents of youth entering shelters pushed back from 24 hours to the federal standards of 72 hours. This allows our trained staff to assess the child to ensure immediate family reunification is a safe and prudent action. We urge you to schedule a hearing for HB 1165 to address issues related to youth in foster care and those youth that are unattached from families.

Thank you for your consideration.

December 7, 2007

"ACTION ALERT"

Legislative Alert

An important and urgent legislative update from the Child Welfare League of America!

Congress is running out of time to act on crucial mental health parity and addiction legislation. If passed, this legislation will help millions of Americans gain access to necessary care.

Congress is leaving soon for the holidays and they need to hear from you. Join in the National Call-in Day to tell your Representative and Senators to pass parity before they leave!

ACTION

CALL
Join the National Call-in Day on Friday, Dec. 7th
Call toll-free to be connected to the U.S. Capitol Switchboard: 1-866-727-4894

MESSAGE

Tell your Members of Congress to pass mental health and addiction parity legislation now, and to not make Americans wait another year! Senate bill S. 558 has already passed the Senate, and H.R. 1424 has been approved by three House committees.

BACKGROUND

Longstanding, inequitable financial requirements and treatment limitations in private plans have caused millions of Americans to go without necessary mental health care and substance-related treatment. Lack of access to such treatment has particularly tragic implications for vulnerable, low-income families involved with the child welfare system, as both mental health issues and substance abuse are rampant. The bills before Congress would erase longstanding discriminatory limitations by requiring group health plans with 50 or more enrollees who choose to offer mental health benefits to provide them on the same terms as other medical conditions.

Mental health and addiction parity legislation has already passed the Senate (S. 558). The House bill (H.R. 1424), having passed the three committees that share jurisdiction (Education and Labor, Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce), awaits debate and a vote on the House floor.

You've done great work to get parity this far. Please tell Congress to finish the job this year!

November 14, 2007

URGENT: VETO OVERRIDE VOTE! - CALL NOV. 14 & 15!

The President vetoed funds for Labor-Health and Human Services-Education yesterday.
Urge your Rep. to Reject the President's Upside-down Priorities and Vote to override the veto!

Call Today and Tomorrow (Nov. 14 and 15),
1-800-965-4298* to override the President's veto

Yesterday the President vetoed a bill to fund the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. If his veto stands, millions of people who are struggling now will face more hardship - fewer will have help heating their homes, will be in Head Start, or will be able to see a doctor at a community health center.

Late this Thursday Representatives will have a chance to decide if they will reject the President's veto and support America's priorities or if they will turn their backs on America and sustain the President's veto.

Rejecting the President's veto is within our grasp - but only if YOU PICK UP THE PHONE and let your Rep. know how important this bill is to you. The House's Labor-HHS-Ed vote on Tuesday was just 3 votes shy of the two-thirds needed to override, with 17 not voting.

You can help make the difference by calling your Rep. today and tomorrow toll-free, 800-965-4298

Message: Please vote to override the President's veto of the appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education. It's an investment in education, health, services, and jobs for the people who live in our district and the nation. A yes vote begins to rebuild after 7 years of cuts. Voting against it is a vote against our communities and will hurt your constituents.

See how your Rep. voted on Labor-HHS-Ed in the past: http://www.chn.org/pdf/2007/HouselhhsvoteJulNov8.pdf

Need help finding your Rep's name? Enter your zip code on the upper left side of this page: http://www.house.gov/

Learn what's at stake and more:

Summary list showing how much the outcome of this vote matters - for health, education, home heating, Head Start, and more.(http://www.chn.org/pdf/2007/apropdifcongresspres.pdf) Helpful new report breaking down the impacts by state, from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (http://www.cbpp.org/11-8-07bud.htm)
Detailed table of important services funded in the Labor-HHS-Ed appropriations bill.
(http://www.chn.org/pdf/2007/FY08LHHSEd07presconfapprops.pdf)

Thank You!

October 25, 2007

Congress Votes TODAY to Cover Ten Million Kids!

Legislative Alert

An Important and Urgent Legislative Update from the Child Welfare League of America

Congress is scheduled to vote on another SCHIP bill TODAY!

CALL NOW!

Because Congress was unable to override the President's veto, leadership made positive changes to address Republican concerns regarding the coverage of adults and illegal immigrants, and income eligibility. The new compromise children's health bill will continue to provide health insurance to 10 million children.

Congress won't take "NO" for an answer! With even more bipartisan changes made, there is no excuse not to pass this critical children's health bill. The House has another chance to cover 10 million children.

The President has already issued his veto threat of a new bill that pacifiies his original concerns. Make sure Congress has enough votes to override a future veto!

WHAT'S THE SAME

The new compromised bill will continue to cover 10 million children and will still invest $35 billion.

WHAT'S DIFFERENT

New income restriction
Improved targeting
More rapididly eliminates coverage of childless adults
New crowd out requirement
Guarantees coverage for U.S. citizens only
See the TALKING POINTS below!

ACTION

Call your Representative today about the new changes to CHIP. We especially encourage calls to Republican Representatives that did not originally vote for SCHIP this time around.

To see how your member of Congress voted, click here!

U.S. Capitol Switchboard 1-800-828-0498

TALKING POINTS

Bipartisan negotiators made concrete changes to ensure that a strong bipartisan CHIP reauthorization can be signed into law this year.
The revised compromise agreement still covers 10 million children while making important, concrete changes to address the concerns of Republicans who support CHIP and want to continue its successes.

Most notably:

Eliminates coverage of higher income-children. The bill unequivocally shuts down the existing flexibility for states to adopt new expansions to children above 300% Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Sharpens the focus on "poor children first".
Through changes to the performance bonus structure, the revamped legislation sharpens the focus of the CHIP reauthorization legislation on enrolling the lowest income children who generally don't have any access to employer-based coverage.
By increasing the focus on the lowest income children, the legislation manages to cover even more children than the original bill, but with less crowd out.
More rapidly eliminates coverage of childless adults.
The legislation now phases out coverage of childless adults in one year.
Makes concrete changes to guarantee that only U.S. citizens and certain legal immigrants are enrolled in CHIP.
Without action, every day another 2,000 children will join the ranks of the uninsured, adding to the 9 million uninsured children currently without private or public health insurance. We know you support children's coverage and urge you to vote for this bill to help reverse this trend.

Don't hold 4 million kids hostage to politics - vote yes on CHIP.

October 8, 2007

House to Vote on National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Bill on Wednesday, October 10

Call Your Representative and Ask Them to Support H.R. 2895

On Wednesday, October 10, the full House of Representatives will vote on H.R. 2895, the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007.

Calls are needed now through Wednesday in support of H.R. 2895. The bill would establish a national affordable housing trust fund. At least 75% of the new resources must produce or preserve housing affordable to extremely low income people. This would be the first new housing production program since 1990 and the only one focused on housing for households with the lowest incomes.

This is also the first time a bill establishing a National Housing Trust Fund will be considered on the floor of Congress!

Call 877-210-5351 and ask to speak with your Representative's office (or see below for a list of all Indiana Representatives).

Then, ask to speak to the person who handles housing issues for your Congressperson.

Message: I urge Representative ___ to support passage of H.R. 2895, the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007.

On Tuesday, October 9, we will learn about any harmful amendments that will be offered to H.R. 2895 on the House floor. We will then send you another call to action about these amendments. That alert will contain specific messages concerning potential threats to this important legislation. Please be ready to contact your Representative again on Tuesday or Wednesday to urge opposition to any harmful amendments.

Please share this alert with your networks!

Thank you for your support.

Indiana Representatives:

Peter J. Visclosky - (202) 225-2461
Joe Donnelly - (202) 225-3915
Mark E. Souder - (202) 225-4436
Steve Buyer - (202) 225-5037
Dan Burton - (202) 225-2276
Mike Pence - (202) 225-3021
Julia Carson - (202) 225-4011
Brad Ellsworth- (202) 225-4636
Baron P. Hill - (202) 225-5315

Indiana Coalition on Housing and Homeless Issues (ICHHI) ICHHI is a statewide non-partisan membership-based organization that believes everyone in Indiana deserves safe, decent, affordable housing; employment; income; and resources for self- sufficiency. ICHHI is committed to using a holistic grass roots approach to building stronger individuals, families, and communities through planning, research, education, and advocacy.

Website: http://www.ichhi.org

E-mail: info@ichhi.org

October 3, 2007

ACTION ALERT

REGISTER TO VOTE BY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2007!

Your last chance to register to vote in the November 6, 2007 General Election is fast approaching. The 2007 election is for municipal offices.

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR 2007 ELECTION:
A voter who lives in a city or town will be eligible to vote in the November 2007 municipal elections. Ifyou do not live in a city or town, there will be no election in 2007 in which you can vote. The information on polling places at www.IndianaVoters.com will show the location of your polling place at the next election in which all voters of the state can vote. You can also verify your current registration status on this site. Individuals who have moved, changed marital status or turned 18 should check your status to insure that you are able to vote on November 6, 2007.

September 24, 2007

URGENT! HOUSE CHILDREN'S HEALTH VOTE TUESDAY!

URGENT! The U.S. House of Representatives will vote on the State Children's Health Insurance Program bill on Tuesday - tomorrow!

Your call to your Representative in the U. S. Congress is urgently needed.

Please use this toll-free number: 1-800-828-0498 Calls needed today and Tuesday!

You'll be connected to the Capitol Switchboard - ask for your Representative's office (for help getting your Rep's name: enter your zip code at http://www.house.gov/ (you'll find the spot at the top left).

This bill will allow 4 million children to get health insurance who would otherwise be uninsured. It also protects children now covered. The President wants to veto it.

Your call to your Representative is urgently needed. A strong vote in the House will show that the President's veto can be overridden. It won't be easy, though. Four million children need you to call.

Tell your Representative: Please vote for the State Children's Health Insurance Program bill! I'm a constituent who thinks covering 4 million more uninsured children is one of the most important votes you can take.

Thanks to Families USA for making the toll-free number available. Last week, we sent you a toll-free number from SEIU - that's okay to use, too. But please - call, and forward this to everyone you know.

Your call is so important because it will take a big vote (at least two-thirds) for the House and Senate to show the President it will reject his ill-considered veto. The Senate will take up SCHIP later this week - we'll keep you posted.

For a helpful summary of incorrect and misleading statements by the President, see this piece by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: http://www.cbpp.org/9-20-07health.htm

August 15, 2007

Dear CBI Supporters,

The US House and Senate have both passed higher education student loan bills that include language on loan forgiveness for child welfare workers. There is an important difference between these two bills in the loan forgiveness section.

Senator Lamar Alexander is part of the key leadership of the Conference Committee that will determine the fate of loan forgiveness for child welfare workers. It is imperitive that he recognize the difference between these bills, and that he support the provision in the House bill. 

Both bills provide long term loan forgiveness for public service employees after 10 years of work. The House bill provides loan forgiveness of $1000 a year up to $5000 (five years) if a person works in one of eight areas of national need, including public and private child welfare workers. This provision in the House bill is in addition to a provision that provides loan forgiveness to an individual that has been employed in public service for ten years. The Senate bill only provides the 10-year provision, not the additional $5000 loan forgiveness for child welfare workers found in the House bill.

Congressional staff are working to resolve the differences between the two versions. Call right away while Congress is at home and tell them that you support  keeping the House section in any final agreement.

ACTION:

CALL or Email

Call your Senator right away while they're at home!

Local # for Sen. Dick Lugar = 317-226-5555
Email: senator_lugar@lugar.senate.gov

Local # for Sen. Evan Bayh = 317-554-0750
Email: http://bayh.senate.gov/WebMail1.htm

MESSAGE:

· The College Cost Reduction Act of 2007 (HR 2669) includes a loan forgiveness provision for child welfare workers. This section is critically important to the child welfare field.
· The House provision on child welfare loan forgiveness includes a 5-year provision that provides up to $1000 per year for up to 5 years.
· Keep the House provision Section 131 on child welfare loan forgiveness in the final conference agreement.

For more information, visit:
http://ga1.org/campaign/loan_forgiveness_HELP.

July 2, 2007

Legislative Update

Minimum Wage Changes Coming

There has been some confusion and consternation over the new federal and state minimum wage laws. While little can be done at this point about employers’ concern, the following will attempt to clarify the details.

Congress passed a bill, which President Bush signed into law on May 25, increasing the federal minimum wage. The first increase goes into effect 60 days after the president’s signature – on July 24, 2007. The bill increases the federal minimum wage in three stages:

Wage Effective Date
$5.85 July 24, 2007
$6.55 July 24, 2008
$7.25 July 24, 2009

The new state law provides that the state minimum wage shall not be less than the federal minimum wage. Although the new state law has an effective date of June 30, 2007, the state minimum wage will increase on the same dates that the federal minimum wage increases. Most Indiana employers are subject to the federal minimum wage. There are approximately 35,000 to 40,000 employees in Indiana (out of a workforce of more than three million) who fall under the state’s minimum wage.

In addition to complying with the wage increases, employers with at least one employee are also required to communicate the above changes to their employees by displaying at least one updated labor law poster in each of their locations.

Source = Indiana Chamber of Commerce

June 13, 2007

PLEASE CALL SENATORS LUGAR AND BAYH

Senators Lugar and Bayh are needed to play an important role in ensuring that Food Stamps and emergency food programs are improved when they come up for renewal very soon.

Step 1: Call 1-800-965-4298 (toll-free!) to be connected to the U.S. Capitol Switchboard.

Step 2: Ask to be connected to Senator Lugar's office.

Step 3: Ask for a staffer who works on nutrition issues:

Hi, my name is _________ and I'm a constituent. Please tell Senator Lugar two important things regarding vital food programs: First, ask him to sign Senator Durbin's letter calling for increased food stamp benefits beyond the current $1 per meal per day. Second, thank him for sponsoring S. 1529, the Food Stamp Fairness and Benefit Restoration Act, which increases and restores benefits for the poorest and most vulnerable among us.

Step 4: Call the toll-free number again to be connected to Senator Bayh's office, but use this message for him:

Hi, my name is _________ and I'm a constituent. Please tell Senator Bayh to do two important things to improve vital food programs: First, sign Senator Durbin's letter calling to increase food stamp benefits beyond the current $1 per meal per day. Second, co-sponsor S. 1529, the Food Stamp Fairness and Benefit Restoration Act, a bipartisan bill which increases and restores benefits for the poorest and most vulnerable among us.

Here's why our Senators are so important:

Senator Durbin's letter calls for increasing benefits, including more food stamps for families with high child care costs. The letter also supports increasing the savings and other assets families can have without losing eligibility for food stamps. Right now, households can only have up to $2,000 in assets to qualify for food stamps, penalizing people who struggle to save for retirement or college.

Neither Senators Lugar nor Bayh has yet signed this letter (at this writing, 20 including Senator Durbin have signed). Senator Lugar is a lead sponsor of S. 1529, (Agriculture Committee Chair Tom Harkin (D-IA) is the other lead sponsor), but Senator Bayh has not yet co-sponsored the bill. More signers and co-sponsors will make a strong statement as the farm bill is taken up that the nutrition provisions need more funding. There is lots of competition for senators' attention in the farm bill - including subsidies for farms, conservation, and biofuels. It is vital that Senators Lugar and Bayh speak up for the nutrition improvements that low-income people need.

For more information about what's at stake for Food Stamps and emergency food aid in the farm bill, check out the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) Web site: http://www.frac.org/Legislative/farmBill2007/alerts/06.06.07.html

April 5, 2007

Action Alert

Call or email your State Representative to voice your support of SB 503 as amended.

The phone number to the Indiana House switchboard is 317-232-9600, or if you need to find out your representatives name or email address, go to the Children’s Bureau Advocacy website at childrensbureau.org/html/advocacy.

SB 503: Health Insurance for low income Hoosiers

On Wednesday, April 4, the Indiana House of Representatives Public Health Committee heard SB 503, the Healthier Indiana Insurance Program. This bill was amended to include; prenatal coverage for women up to 200% of poverty, 12 month continuous eligibility for children, preventive care, family planning, mental health and substance abuse parity. This bill and amendment resulted from the leadership of Senator Pat Miller and Representative Charlie Brown. It received the Committee’s support and passed by a vote of (11-1).

This bill will give low income working people an option for purchasing insurance with a savings component. It is a giant step in the direction of making health insurance available for more individuals.

Please call your legislator and ask him/her to support SB 503.

March 29, 2007

ACTION ALERT!!!!

ACT NOW TO HELP RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE IN INDIANA!!

The Indiana Senate PENSION AND LABOR committee will be discussing HB 1027 on Wednesday, Apr. 4th. You can support this bill to increase the minimum wage by contacting the members of the committee (listed below).

Let them know that when working parents receive adequate wages, they are better able to care for and protect their children.

MEMBERS of the Indiana Senate Pension and Labor Committee:

Name	Phone	Email
Dennis K. Kruse(CHAIR)	(317)233-0930	s14@in.gov
R. Michael Young(VICE -CHAIR)	(317) 232-9489	s35@in.gov
Phil Boots	(765)362-1504	S23@in.gov
Robert J. Deig	(800)382-9467	S49@in.gov
Mike Delph	(317) 232-9493	s29@in.gov
Lindel O. Hume	(317)232-9523	s48@in.gov
Karen Tallian	(317)232-9472	s4@in.gov
Greg Walker	(812)603-6952	S41@in.gov
Brent Waltz	(317) 232-9814	s36@in.gov
Thomas K. Weatherwax	(317)232-9488	s18@in.gov
Jim Arnold	(317)232-9847	s8@in.gov

===================================================

Here are some reasons why CBI supports an increase in the minimum wage:

• Research indicates that the most important factor in reducing poverty is the number or available jobs paying livable wages. A full time worker who earns minimum wage and is supporting a family would fall drastically below the Federal Poverty Level.

• Of the 37 million U.S. citizens living in poverty, 13 million of them are children. Of all developed nations in the world, the U.S. child poverty rate is second only to Mexico.

• Most alarming - 18.6% of all Indiana children currently live in poverty - up from 11.3% of children in 2001. Our child poverty rate in Indiana is higher than the national rate, as well.

• Children living in poverty are at a greater risk for developmental delays, poor physical and mental health, abuse or neglect, and future reliance upon social services in adulthood. In addition, they are more likely to drop out of school, engage in criminal behavior, be involved in juvenile corrections, and become teen parents.

• The minimum wage has stagnated at $5.15 per hour for nine years - despite an increase in inflation of 26%. As of December 2, 2006 the U.S. set a record for the longest period ever in history without an increase to the minimum wage.

• Many individuals are considered low-income, with incomes slightly above the Poverty Level, yet with earnings still too meager to meet basic needs. These families face serious risks when unexpected expenses occur (car repairs, medical bills, or utility increases). Research has shown that most families will cut food costs before other expenses, increasing the likelihood of their children experiencing hunger or malnutrition.

• Underfed children experience lower academic achievement/poor test scores and are more likely to be hospitalized - incurring even further expenses for families.

In addition to contacting these committee members, you could also call your personal Indiana Senator to emphasize your support for increasing the minimum wage and ensuring more livable incomes for Hoosier workers!

As always, we thank you for supporting and advocating for Indiana children!

February 5, 2007

In today's Indy Star, Tim Evans has written an article regarding HB 1194, which would form a committee to study the issue of overrepresentation of children of color in social services.

Both Clara Anderson and Beth Mickelson of the CBI Advocacy Department are quoted in the article! You can view the article here:

Click to view article

If you support HB 1194, please contact your Indiana State legislators and ask them to support the bill, as well!

January 19, 2007

Action Alert

Call Senator Lugar and Bayh today - tell them to support raising the minimum wage!
[Minimum wage is an issue at both the State and Federal level. The call number in this alert is for the Federal Senators.]

Following a stunning victory in the House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate is expected to take up a bill to increase the minimum wage as early as Monday, January 22. You can help win a long-overdue raise for millions of people.

Your call can make a difference! Call your senators toll-free at 1-800-459-1887 TODAY. Tell them to support S. 2, which will raise the minimum wage for the first time in 10 years.

Here's why you should call: Members of Congress have raised their own pay $31,000 over the past ten years, but have refused to raise the minimum wage by one dime. 37 million people live in poverty in our country, in part because the minimum wage is so low. At $5.15 an hour, a full-time minimum wage worker earns just $10,712 a year -- nearly $6,000 below the official poverty line for a family of three.

You can help. Call both Senators Lugar and Bayh NOW:

===========================

Step 1:

Call 1-800-459-1887, toll-free, to be connected to the U.S. Capitol Switchboard.

Step 2:

Ask to be connected to the office of one of your senators.
(To find out your senators' names, click here)

Step 3:

Tell the person who answers the phone:

"Hi, my name is _______________ and I'm a constituent.
Please tell Senator _______ to vote for S. 2, the bill to increase the minimum wage for the first time in 10 years.
Please oppose ALL amendments, including still more tax breaks or other sweeteners for business or proposals to hurt worker rights.
Will Senator ___ vote in favor of S. 2 and oppose further amendments to it?"

Step. 4:

Repeat Steps 1, 2, and 3 for your second senator.

===========================

What's at stake: On January 10, the House voted 315 to 116 to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour by 2009. On Monday, Jan. 22, the Senate is expected to begin a debate over S. 2, which would also raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to 7.25 an hour by 2009. At least 60 votes are needed to overcome delaying tactics. In order to make sure they have the 60 votes, the Senate leadership is expected to include in S. 2 a package of tax breaks approved by the Senate Finance Committee, costing $8.3 billion over 5 years.
(For details, see http://finance.senate.gov/press/Bpress/2007press/prb01182007leg.pdf).

Although we much prefer the clean version passed in the House, we think Senators ought to vote for S. 2. But we understand many other amendments will be offered on the Senate floor, aimed at handing still more breaks to business and eroding workers' rights. Senators ought to reject all of these amendments. Enough is enough.

Help us generate thousands of calls in support of S. 2, with no amendments. The toll-free number will remain open until the Senate votes on S. 2.

The Coalition on Human Needs (www.chn.org), the American Friends Service Committee (www.afsc.org/economic-justice/), and the Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign (www.letjusticeroll.org), urge all in their networks to call Congress and to forward this alert. The toll-free number is provided by AFSC, a Quaker organization which welcomes groups to use the number to support S. 2 and without linking it to language or websites supporting partisan purposes.

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

THANKS!

September 28, 2006

ACTION ALERT!!!!

It's that time of year, Ladies and Gentlemen!! Election Season! Are YOU ready to choose who will has the power? It's time to get informed, get involved, and make a difference. It's time to REGISTER TO VOTE!!!

You can download a Voter Registration form on the following website:

http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/pdfs/50504.pdf

IMPORTANT:

The DEADLINE to register is FRIDAY, OCT. 6TH!!! Your registration must be postmarked by this date in order for your registration to be valid.

Have you moved recently? Changed your name or gotten married? If so, then you need to re-register. Never registered before? There is NO time like the present!

If you think your vote won't make a difference, check out these recent examples, where elections came down to one or two votes:

- The 1994 Wyoming State election resulted in a tie for one seat in the House of Representatives. The original vote count and even the recount produced 1,941 votes each for Republican Randall Luthi and Independent Larry Call. In the end, Luthi was declared winner through a drawing by the state canvassing board in which a ping-pong ball bearing Luthi’s name was pulled from Governor Mike Sullivan’s cowboy hat.

The 1997 election for a seat in South Dakota legislative district 12 showed Democrat John McIntyre in the lead by four votes over Republican Hal Wick. A recount showed Wick in the lead by just one vote: 4,192 to 4,191. The race was declared a tie after the state Supreme Court ruled one ballot for Wick was invalid because the voter accidentally selected both candidates on the ballot. The state legislature heard arguments from both sides and selected Wick by a vote of 46 to 20.

Vermont Rep. Sydney Nixon was deemed the winner of the 1997 state election following a vote count showing an apparent one-vote margin, 570 to 569. Rep. Nixon resigned after a recount revealed that he had actually lost by one vote to his opponent Robert Emond.

Need to know who is running in YOUR district? Check out the Advocacy page on the CBI Website, or go to www.vote-smart.org

June 26, 2006

Action Alert!

Do you support an increase to minimum wage?

Please contact your US Senators and Representatives to share your opinions regarding an increase to the minimum wage.

How do YOU feel about raising the minimum wage? This week, US Senators voted on a proposal to gradually increase to the minimum wage from $5.15 - where it has remained for over a decade. The proposal did not receive the necessary votes, and failed to pass the Senate. Both Senators Bayh and Lugar from Indiana voted in favor of an increase. Senator Lugar was one of only eight Republicans who supported the bill – stepping outside of party lines with his vote.

What is your opinion on the issue? Do you feel that $5.15 is adequate compensation? Would you prefer to see the minimum wage increased? For your reference, a full-time employee earning minimum wage receives roughly $10,600 per year. For a family of three, this annual income falls $6,000 below the Federal Poverty Guideline.

Increasing the minimum wage could happen either on the Federal level or within individual States. Indiana has not succeeded in passing legislation to raise the minimum wage thus far, though there were three such bills introduced in 2006. None of the bills made it to the floor for a full vote in either the Indiana House or Senate.

Please take the following action in support of an increase in minimum wage:

- Write or call U.S. Senators Lugar and Bayh to thank them for supporting an increase in the minimum wage. Children's Bureau, Inc. supports an increase in the minimum wage, as stated in our Position Statement for Child Poverty. Please show your support for both Indiana Senators for their vote. Please also ask them to continue to support such initiatives, to help working families achieve self-sufficiency and rely less on government assistance.

- Write or call your Indiana State Senators and urge them to pursue an increase in the minimum wage on the State level. Ask them to draft the legislation themselves, or stand in support of other legislators who bring it forth.

For more information on this topic, you can read the following article from the Indianapolis Star. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060622/NEWS06/606220475&SearchID=73248836983268

To find your U.S. Congressperson, or your Indiana State Legislators, visit www.childrensbureau.org/html/advocacy.cfm

June 13, 2006

Action Alert! Please call Congress on June 15th to support Kinship Care providers!

This Thursday, June 15, Child Welfare League of American and its partners have declared a National Call-In Day to support the Kinship Caregiver Support Act (S. 985), and the Guardian Assistance Promotion and Kinship Support Act (H.R. 3380). CWLA would like YOUR help, to convince Congress to pass legislation that would provide additional support for those who provide safe and caring kinship care for children. Please reach out to your Senators and Representatives on Thursday, June 15.

You can call toll free at 1-888-233-1221 to be connected to the Capitol Hill switchboard. Then ask to be transferred to the offices of your Members of Congress.

You will be connected to a member of the Congressperson's staff. Don't be nervous! They take calls from constituents all the time!Tell them to please ask your Senators and Representatives to help children this Father’s Day by sponsoring kinship care legislation, S. 985 in the Senate and H.R.3380 in the House of Representatives!

The legislation affirms the importance of non-parental caregivers in the lives of abused and neglected children. These bills would assist millions of children being raised by relatives and other caregivers.

These bills also provide supports to states and large metropolitan areas to establish kinship navigator programs, which would help grandparents and other relatives obtain information and referral services and other supports to meet the needs of the children they are raising. Grants also facilitate effective community-based partnerships between public and private nonprofit agencies, like the Children's Bureau. These partnerships would bring together resources and support from a range of agencies that currently address the needs of children.

The legislation would require states to notify relatives when children enter foster care within 60 days of a child's removal from custody. Notice must be provided to all adult grandparents and other adult relatives, including relatives suggested by the parent(s). Exceptions can be made to this requirement in cases of family or domestic violence.

More information on the Kinship Caregiver Support Act and the Guardian Assistance Promotion and Kinship Support Act is available at http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/2006legagenda09.htm.

May 30, 2006

Action Alert!!!

House Appropriations Subcommittee Poised to Slash SSBG

*Call or meet with your U.S. Representative within the next week!!

You can call the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-225-3121 or call your local congressional office phone number. (You can find this number by clicking on your U.S. Rep's name, and then by being directly connected to their information on the VoteSmart webpage.)

Once you make your contact, please send this Legislative Alert to others you know who care about children and families, and urge them to take similar action!!!

THE MESSAGE FOR YOUR UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE:

* Tell House members to oppose ANY cut to the Social Services Block Grant. It will force cuts across the fifty states for many children’s programs, services to the aging AND services for individuals with disabilities.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Despite failing to reach a budget deal, the House of Representatives is now proceeding with all eleven appropriations bills. The Subcommittee that allocates funds for the U. S. Dept. of Health and Human Services will meet the week of June 5, and we expect a proposal to make a 30% cut to the Social Services Block Grant.

Members of Congress are likely to hold town meetings or participate in other public events between now and the end of the break, June 4.

We hope that you make your concerns known about the importance of SSBG in your community. You can call your member of the U.S. House of Representatives or attend one of their public events and tell them to oppose the cut of $500 million to SSBG being considered by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education.

SSBG represents 12% of all federal funding states receive from the federal government to provide child abuse prevention, adoption, foster care, child protection, independent and transitional living, and residential services for children and youth. SSBG is a major federal source of funding used to prevent child abuse and to support children who have been abused and neglected.

It is the single largest source of funds for Child Protective Services!!!!!!!

States allocate over $700 million annually in SSBG funds for children and youth involved in child welfare. Nationwide, more than 2.6 million children received a range of child welfare services funded in part or in total by SSBG.

The President’s budget request for FY 2007 slashes funding for SSBG from $1.7 billion to $1.2 billion and the Subcommittee will be under pressure to approve his request.

For many years up to 1996 SSBG was funded at $2.8 billion. It was reduced temporarily to $2.3 billion by the TANF law. Although it was to be restored, Congress further reduced it to $1.7 in the 1998 transportation bill.

If your member of Congress serves on the Appropriations Committee they hold special influence as they determine the fate of SSBG. The full committee member list is available at:

http://appropriations.house.gov/index.cfm?fuseAction=AboutTheCommittee.MemberList&SubcommitteeId=18

For More specifics on how your state uses SSBG funds for child welfare and to determine how large the cut will be in your state visit CWLA's HOT TOPICS AT:

http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/2006legpriorities03.htm

Thank you for your continued advocacy!!!

For a more detailed description of the House and White House proposed cuts to SSBG go to:
http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/2006legpriorities03.htm

or contact Tim Briceland-Betts, CWLA Co-Director of Government Affairs, at 202-942-0256.

May 17, 2006

2007 FEDERAL BUDGET is being VOTED on TODAY!!!!

The vote is scheduled in U.S. Congress today – Wednesday the 17th, at 2:30 ET, meaning 1:30 Indianapolis time!!

Do NOT delay! Call your U.S. Congress person IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!

Over $70 Billion in cuts have been proposed, and approved by the U.S. Senate! But the budget is not a done deal yet. The leadership in Congress is not sure they have the votes needed to pass the $70 Bil in cuts. Moderates have continued to call for $3 billion to be added back to the budget in order to prevent cuts in education, health and other services. They are under intense pressure to give in.

Please don't let that happen!!!!!

What's at stake? Energy assistance, K-12 and higher education, child care, job training, services to protect children from abuse or neglect, Head Start... will there be cuts in these vital services?

PLEASE CALL NOW, THIS MINUTE! 800-459-1887, TOLL-FREE.
Tell your U.S. Representative:

"My name is ________, and I am a constituent in your district. Please say NO to a budget deal that forces cuts in health care, education, child care, and many other services. It's still wrong to cut needed services to pay for tax giveaways to millionaires."

Your calls can stop this bad budget!!!!!!!

Please forward this to your friends and networks ASAP!

To learn more about why the budget resolution hurts needy people, see the recent article in the Human Needs Report at
http://www.chn.org/humanneeds/060505a.html.

What happens if we are able to stop the House from passing a budget resolution?

Congress will still work on all the annual spending bills, and we will continue working for adequate funding or preventing cuts in human needs services.
Congress cannot pass more fast-track tax cuts or entitlement cuts (like Medicaid or Food Stamps) that need only simple majorities in the Senate.
It demonstrates the lack of support in Congress for harmful cuts in human needs programs.
Use the toll-free number above to reach the U.S. Capitol Switchboard and ask to be connected to your Representative's office.
(The person at the switchboard can figure out who your Representative is if you're not sure).
When you’re connected, please give the message above.

The toll-free number is provided courtesy of the American Friends Service Committee which has launched a budget campaign, http://www.afsc.org/economic-justice/sos/ AFSC welcomes groups to circulate and use the toll-free number in support of non-partisan budget goals and without linking the alert to a website soliciting donations or actions which may be used to support partisan lobbying or work.

May 10, 2006

National Call-In Day: May 10, 2006

Across the United States, more than 6 million children are being raised in households headed by grandparents and other relatives; 2.5 million children are in these households without any parent present.

Tell Your Senators to Support GrandFamilies on Mother’s Day

CALL TOLL-FREE

1-888-233-1221*

On Wednesday, May 10th call your Senators and urge them to co-sponsor the bipartisan Kinship Caregiver Support Act (S. 985).
Tell them:

“I am one of many grandparents and other relatives in my state who are raising children whose parents cannot care for them. I urge Senator __________ to help children on Mother’s Day by co-sponsoring the bipartisan Kinship Caregiver Support Act, S. 985. Children need safe and stable families.”

* You’ll be connected to the U.S. Capitol Switchboard.
Then ask to be connected to your Senator’s office.

The Kinship Caregiver Support Act is supported by AARP, Child Welfare League of America, Center for Law and Social Policy, Children's Defense Fund, Generations United, National Committee of Grandparents for Children’s Rights, and the North American Council on Adoptable Children.

May 4, 2006

*Call your U.S. Representative TODAY! Use this toll-free number:
800-459-1887, provided by the American Friends Service Committee.
Or you can call your local congressional office phone number.
Senate 800-382-9467 Reps. 800-382-9842.

Our Indiana U.S. Representatives are:

Senator Richard Lugar
Senator Evan Byah
Rep. Peter Visclosky 1st Dist.
Rep. Chris Chocola 2nd Dist.
Rep. Mark Souder 3rd Dist.
Rep. Steve Buyer 4th Dist.
Rep. Dan Burton 5th Dist.
Rep. Mike Pence 6th Dist.
Rep. Julia Carson 7th Dist.
Rep. John Hostettler 8th Dist.
Rep. Mike Sodrel 9th Dist.

MESSAGE:

* Vote against the budget resolution passed by the House Budget Committee. It will force cuts to SSBG, many children’s programs including child care, and juvenile justice, and result in additional cuts to entitlement programs.

BACKGROUND:

On Wednesday, March 29 the House Budget Committee adopted a budget resolution that follows most of the President’s 2007 proposed spending levels. The resolution does not include the proposed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid but does include a discretionary funding level of $873 billion, the same as the Administration’s request. The funding level in the House resolution and in the administration’s budget also proposes an increase of seven percent for the Defense Department. In effect such a proposal, if adopted would require cuts to many domestic programs since the Defense budget makes up more than half the discretionary spending. Discretionary spending must be approved by appropriators each year and it covers programs such as child care, Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) and many other children’s programs.

The House resolution does not provide the level of funding that the Senate-passed resolution does, as it includes $6.8 billion in benefit cuts from mandatory programs. It also assumes the President’s proposed cut of $500 million to the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG).

Keep up the pressure! Urge members to vote against the budget resolution unless it provides more funding to vital programs and rejects the cut to SSBG.

The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the budget resolution for FY 2007 on Thursday, May 4. Calls are needed to oppose cuts to vital programs!

Urge your Representative to vote against the Budget Resolution approved by the House Budget Committee. The budget will hurt children by forcing deep cuts in child protection programs, health and mental health care, child care, and juvenile justice measures. Ask your Representative to reject these deep cuts.

You can call your member of the U.S. House of Representatives using a toll free number, 1-800-459-1887. Tell them to oppose the resolution that was passed by the House Budget Committee.

Thank you for your continued advocacy.
*For a more detailed description of the House and White House proposed cuts to SSBG go to:

http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/2006legpriorities03.htm
or
contact the CWLA Government Affairs Department at 202-942-0256.

May 1, 2006

Action Alert!!!

Be sure to vote in tomorrow’s primary elections! Primary elections determine which candidates will be able to run on differing party tickets in November.

Primary elections are ALSO the method for electing Marion County School Board Members! Primaries are the only time when you may vote for School Board Candidates, so be sure to request a School Board Ballot when you vote tomorrow!

You must have a valid, government issued ID, and must also be registered to vote!

To find your voting location, call:
County Board of Voter Registration
(317) 327-5040

Who’s on the Ballot?

2006 Primary Election (May2):
- 1 US Senate seat
- ALL U.S. Congressional Seats
- Several Indiana State Senate seats
- ALL Indiana State Representative seats
- Judges, Prosecutors, and Sherriffs
- County offices (i.e. Assessor, Auditor, Coroner, etc).
- City Council and Township Trustees
- MARION CO. SCHOOL BOARD!

March 31, 2006

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MONDAY APRIL 3, 2003

Have you moved? Changed your name?

Know any 18 year old citizens needing to be registered?

The Primary Election is May 2nd and the deadline to register to vote in that election is Monday, April 3, 2006.

Please take a few minutes to make sure that you are able to participate in the fast approaching Primary Election.

https://electionimpact.votenet.com/indiana/voterreg/index.cfm

or print off a PDF version of the voter registration form and take it to the appropriate office on Monday.

http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/vote_reg.html

Indiana Election Division
302 W. Washington St. #E-204
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2743
317-232-3939 or 800-622-4941
elections@iec.state.us

March 16, 2006

CALL TODAY!!!!!!!

Key Senate Budget Votes TODAY - Thursday, March 16!

A real chance to restore $7 billion to human needs programs - But you have to call!

The Specter-Harkin Amendment adds $7 billion to restore funding for education, nutrition and vital social services programs (like Head Start, child care, Meals on Wheels and others). Similar votes on Tuesday failed on a 50-50 tie. Your call can make the difference. Specter-Harkin will come up sometime on Thursday.

Please make 2 calls - one to each Senator.
Use this toll-free number to be connected both times: 800-459-1887

(Thanks again to the American Friends Service Committee for providing the number and to several generous organizations who have shared in the cost.)

Here’s what to say when you get through to your Senator's staff:

1. "Please tell Senator _________ to support the Specter-Harkin Amendment to the budget resolution."

2. "Please tell Senator __________ to oppose any budget resolution that will force harmful cuts in programs that serve needy people and to oppose tax breaks that take funds away from needed services and deepen the deficit."

Background:

What is the Specter-Harkin Amendment? The Specter-Harkin Amendment would restore $7 billion in funding to the committee that has jurisdiction over many education, nutrition, social services, energy assistance, Head Start, child care, Meals on Wheels, and other vital services. Failure to enact this amendment will result in serious cuts to these services. This amendment really helps because it adds $7 billion to the total money available for annually funded programs.

What's Next? The Senate hopes to finish work on their budget resolution by late Thursday - although that may slip. So this is your chance to
(1) support a good amendment and
(2) urge your Senators to vote against the whole budget resolution.
That's because the final budget, even if Specter-Harkin passes, will still make harmful service and tax cuts. Further, if a Senate budget is adopted and then compromised with a House budget likely to be more harsh, the end result will hurt more vulnerable people - still to pay towards towards tax breaks massively favoring millionaires.

The toll-free number is provided courtesy of the American Friends Service Committee which has launched a budget campaign, http://www.afsc.org/economic-justice/sos/. AFSC welcomes groups to circulate and use the toll-free number in support of the non-partisan budget goals towards which CHN always works and without linking the alert to a website soliciting donations or actions which may be used to support partisan lobbying or work.

Source: Coalition on Human Needs

March 8, 2006

CONTACT YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS NOW!

The General Assembly has about a week left to finish up business.
This means that there is still a very brief window of time that legislators can insert language that would require legislative oversight of FSSA's work to privatize eligibility services. With time so short it is imperative that you have a quick conversation with your legislator (both House and Senate) and let them know that you have concerns about FSSA's work to privatize eligibility systems. In addition to the brief info below, there are a number of very useful documents on the ICHS website http://www.ichsonline.org

CONTACT YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS NOW!

*Send your messages by e-mail or by phone:
Senate 317-232-9400 or 1-800-382-9467 toll free or
House 317-232-9600 local or 1-800-382-9841 toll free.

If you are unsure who your representative is you can find it at the end of this document or is please visit www.ichsonline.org and visit the speak out page!

Sample messages that you can say:

I am concerned about the lack of legislative oversight related to FSSA's work to privatize eligibility services. While the proposal may work out to everyone's benefit in the end the lack of oversight and opportunities for input from concerned Hoosiers isn't right.

After reading what has happened in other states as they have attempted to privatize services I believe it is in the best interest of all Hoosiers that you as a legislator have the opportunity to review the proposals and contracts before they are signed and that a pilot project should be mandated as part of the transition plan.

As a provider of (homeless services; domestic violence services; social services....) I am concerned that the clients my agency serves will be harmed as FSSA looks to privatization as a way to save money. Please require that there be legislative oversight on the process, that FSSA be required to initiate the change using a pilot program with roll-out to the entire state dependent on the result of the pilot and mandate additional opportunities for public input through public hearings.

Brief background info from ICHS
The Family and Social Services Administration's plans to privatize all policy and program oversight for six critical programs: Medicaid, food stamps, child care voucher eligibility, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), foster care funding eligibility, and IMPACT (employment and training services). FSSA is accepting bids for what could be a $1 billion, 10-year contract to privatize a range of services and programs broader than attempted by any other state.

We believe it is imperative that any changes in policy and management of these programs must protect the delivery of essential services, and that the welfare of the neediest Hoosiers not be jeopardized.

Other states attempting to privatize services on a large scale have encountered problems that have left vulnerable children, seniors and people with disabilities without the necessary services for which they were qualified. Further, in those areas where privatization has begun, many questions remain about its ability to reduce costs and improve services.

ICHS is concerned with the speed at which FSSA is pursuing a contract to privatize key safety net programs. We are alarmed at the lack of oversight and opportunities for comments, except for one public meeting scheduled after negotiations have taken place and only days before the final contract will be awarded; the lack of a requirement for a contingency plan should systems fail to operate as anticipated; and the lack of a requirement for a pilot program to test changes in a small region before they are rolled out statewide.

It is prudent and necessary that members of the Indiana General Assembly have some oversight of the process to help ensure that funds are being used efficiently, that vulnerable Hoosiers receive the assistance they need, and that the future viability of Indiana's federally mandated safety net programs is protected.

Efforts to privatize state agencies and state-administered programs and services must include measurable goals and outcomes and an evaluation process to assess both success and failure. Ultimately, the state is responsible for guaranteeing that any changes to the social service system result in a net gain for those accessing services. Member organizations of ICHS look forward to working with the Daniels administration and the General Assembly to identify ways to improve services to clients.

January 27, 2006

Federal Budget will be voted on in the U.S. House next week.

***** Call your U.S. Representative now. You can call toll free at 800-426-8073 or you can call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-225-3121 and ask to be connected to the office of your U.S. Representative. If you are not sure who your U.S. Representative is, they can tell you.

***** MESSAGE:

• Vote NO on the Budget Reconciliation bill!

• The message will differ depending on how the person voted in December.

• In December the following Indiana Representatives voted Nay: Rep. Steve Buyer, Rep. Julia Carson, Rep. Pete Visclosky. Thank them for their vote and ask them to vote NO again.

• In December the following representatives voted Yea: Rep. Dan Burton, Rep. Chris Chocola, Rep. Mike Pence, Rep. Mike Sodrel, Rep. Mark Souder. Ask them to change their vote to NO.

• One of Indiana’s Representatives did not vote in December and we should ask that he vote NO to the budget reconciliation bill Not Voting: Rep. John Hostettler

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to cast their last and final vote on Wednesday, February 1 on the budget reconciliation bill that cuts nearly $600 million in federal foster care assistance. The bill also cuts other programs that children and families depend on including Medicaid, child support and student aid. The reauthorization of TANF is also included with dramatic new work requirements while failing to include increased child care funds.

It is expected that the vote will be extremely close. These next few days will be our last chance to urge members of the House to vote NO to prevent these cuts. If you have already called, we urge you to call again. Members of Congress must know that these cuts have a direct impact on abused and neglected children in foster care.

On December 21, the Senate approved the measure by one vote. The Senate added some technical changes to the final budget agreement that was approved by the House on December 19, resulting in the House having to vote again.

Our task now is to take full advantage of these last few days and make sure that your U.S. Representative votes NO on the final budget reconciliation bill. Unless members of Congress hear from advocates about the impact of these cuts, they will approve the bill. Make sure that your Representative knows that a vote to support this bill means less support for grandparents and other relatives caring for abused and neglected children.

ACTION REQUIRED:

*Call your U.S. Representative now. You can call toll free at 800-426-8073 or you can call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-225-3121 and ask to be connected to the office of your U.S. Representative. If you are not sure who your U.S. Representative is, they can tell you. You can also find the direct line of your U.S. Representative at www.house.gov. To see how your U.S. Representative voted on December 19, go to http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll670.xml.

*Once you make your call, please send this Legislative Alert to others family members, friends or colleagues you know who care about children and families, asking them to also call.

Thank you for your continued advocacy. For a more detailed description of the child welfare provisions that the House will be voting on go to http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/fostercare051109.htm

To see how many of the cuts contained in the bill affect your state to: http://www.chn.org/issues/opportunityforall/statefactsheets.html

For more information, including other background and analysis, visit CWLA's No Caps on Kids! Campaign website at:
http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/nocapsonkids.htm or contact Liz Meitner, CWLA Vice President of Government Affairs, at emeitner@cwla.org or 202-942-0257.

December 21, 2005

ACTION ALERT

CALL THIS MORNING as a last chance to defeat this budget reconciliation that would harm foster care, child care, Medicaid and other programs that help low income families and vulnerable children.

Please use the toll-free number: 800-426-8073 or by calling the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-225-3121.

Ask to be connected to Senators Lugar and Bayh, and tell them:

MESSAGE:
Vote NO on the budget reconciliation conference report (S. 1932). It cuts foster care funding by $343 million. Grandparents and other relatives caring for abused and neglected children will be denied needed support.

Background info:
House Approved Final Budget --- Includes $343 Million in Foster Care Cuts. Now the report returns to the Senate.

CALL YOUR SENATORS TODAY!!

House and Senate leaders in Congress have finalized agreement on a budget reconciliation bill that cuts overall federal spending by $40 billion over 5 years. Although early reports suggested that the final agreement left out most cuts hurting low-income people that were initially proposed by the House, this is NOT the case. Many harmful cuts remain in the agreement, including millions in cuts in federal support for foster care that result in many grandparents and other relatives currently caring for abused and neglected children no longer receiving federal supports.

The House of Representatives approved the final budget reconciliation bill early Monday morning after an all night session by a vote of 212 to 206. Members had virtually no time to fully examine the 774 page bill. To see how your member of Congress voted go to: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll670.xml

Many of the provisions in the final budget agreement are substantially worse than the bill the Senate initially approved on November 3.

VERY CLOSE reconciliation vote expected Wednesday morning!

While no official schedule has been announced, the Senate is now expected to vote on the budget reconciliation bill tomorrow (Weds.) morning. It will be an extremely tight vote.

As the count now stands, there are 50 Senators opposed to the bill (all 45 Democrats plus Republican Senators Snowe, Collins, Chafee, DeWine, and Smith). If those votes hold and no other Republicans change their position, then Vice President Cheney will be needed to break the 50-50 tie. In fact, that is the reason for the vote being pushed off until today – Vice President Cheney is flying back from overseas in order to be available to break a tie.

We are hearing all kinds of wild rumors about additional Republicans who may be getting cold feet and considering voting no on this bill -- so this is far from over. Anything you can do to make sure the 50 "no" votes are locked in, and then to pick up one more Republican would be worth a try. Some of Senators are saying they are "yes" votes but we know they are feeling enormous pressure and they could crack under it in the end.
No Senator likes to be the deciding vote, and that's what they will be if they vote for this terrible bill.

You have all done tremendous work burning up the phone lines, getting media attention, pressuring your legislators, cranking up your coalitions. This is what appears to be the final stretch -- anything more you can do could just make the difference!

Children’s Bureau used reference information from two sources; The Child Welfare League of America and The Center on Budget Policy Priorities.

December 13, 2005

ACTION ALERT

Last Push to keep focus on children and Vulnerable Hoosiers in the federal budget!

Calls Needed THIS WEEK To Keep Opposition Strong against a FINAL Budget Bill that Could Cut Foster Care, Medicaid, Child Care, Food Stamps and other supports for children and their families.

*Call your U.S. Representative and Senators this week. You can call toll-free at 800-426-8073 or you can call the U.S. Capital switchboard at 202-225-3121 and ask to be connected to the office of your Senators and Representatives.

YOUR MESSAGE:

My name is ______ and I live in your district. I am calling to urge you to influence the reconciliation and vote for the budget that will protect services and supports to children and disadvantaged families in our state. As the conference committee process works through the differences in the Senate and House budgets, please ensure that the following cuts are not included: the House proposed $600 million cuts in foster, the Senate and House proposed billions of dollars cut from Medicaid, cuts in food stamps, child care and child support enforcement. Please work for a final budget that does no harm to children and families.

Thank you for your support.

*Once you make your call, please send this Legislative Alert to others you know who care about children and f