INDIANA– Today, the Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute, United Way of Central Indiana, and Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence are proud to announce a new initiative to examine and uplift promising policies that support the economic security of families with children ages newborn to three.
This 18-month project beginning in December 2024 will focus on the benefits that arise to our families and the wider Indiana economy when driven forward by supportive policies like paid family leave, child tax credits, and robust Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programming. Funding from the Pritzker Children’s Initiative–a total of $150,000–will be used to further these aims by engaging the three organizations in a joint effort to research the barriers to economic security for prenatal-to-three families and policy options for increasing stability, raise awareness around the benefits of such policies, and empower civic engagement within this sphere.
“Supporting families in the early years will create brighter futures statewide,” said Erin Macey, Director of Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute. “By funding this opportunity, the Pritzker Children’s Initiative is contributing to the evolution of an Indiana where all children can thrive, and we at the Institute are grateful they share our vision of this future.”
Olivia Smith, Tax and Budget Analyst at the Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute, echoed this sentiment. “In my years of experience in tax analysis, I really do believe that our tax and budget policies reflect our values as a community. Policies like child tax credits or paid family leave would demonstrate the depth of our commitment to our children and the generations to come, while also acknowledging the difficulties of raising a family during a cost-of-living crisis. I am looking forward to working with this wider coalition to ensure the initiative’s success.”
“We are thrilled to join our partners at the Institute and the Coalition in this important initiative,” said Ryan Myers, Government Relations & Public Policy Manager for United Way of Central Indiana. “Economic support during the critical early years of a child’s life benefits both parents and children, leading to improved health and economic stability throughout their lives. A two-generation approach guides united Way’s advocacy efforts, and we are looking forward to uplifting policy solutions that improve whole family outcomes through this collaboration.”
Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence echoed the many benefits that would be associated with stronger policy support for young children and their families. “We know that economic support for families decreases violence rates. This funding and collaboration will greatly increase the reach of the Coalition’s work to promote safe, stable, and nurturing community conditions where all Hoosier children have the resources they need to safely grow and thrive,” said Laura Berry, Executive Director of Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
