The annual report for the Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana is now available online at www.in.gov/children. The 35-page report is a window into the collaborative work being done across all three branches of Indiana government to improve the lives of Hoosier children—especially the most vulnerable. The report was developed by the 18-member Commission.
The report concentrates on access to and availability of mental health and substance abuse services; information sharing; promoting best practices, policies and programs; and obtaining information from agencies and experts. The report also includes extensive information about its work:
- Meeting summaries and links to materials and webcasts for each session
- Detailed information about the Commission’s 6 Task Forces: Child Services Oversight Committee, Cross-System Youth Task Force, Data Sharing and Mapping Task Force, Educational Outcomes Task Force, Infant Mortality and Child Health Task Force, Substance Abuse and Child Safety Task Force
- Announcement of the Cross-System Youth Symposium on July 24, 2015 where each Indiana county is invited to send teams from DCS, law enforcement or probation, mental health, schools and the judiciary to learn best practices for a coordinated response to helping Indiana’s most troubled youth
Established by Governor Pence in August 2013, the Commission on Improving the Status of Children is a multi-branch statewide Commission. Its aim is to improve the status of children in Indiana. In cooperation with other entities, the Commission studies issues concerning vulnerable youth; reviews and makes recommendations concerning pending legislation; and promotes information sharing and best practices. The Commission’s first annual report was released in 2014 and can be found on the Commission website.
