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Beginning July 1, families who provide a home through adoption or eligible guardianships to a child in Indiana’s foster care system will receive financial supports equal to 100 percent of the amount the child received while in foster care.

The Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) provides these subsidies through its Indiana Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) and Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP). Financial supports help ensure caretakers who adopt or take guardianship of children in DCS care are best positioned to meet the needs of those children. Finding the right, safe and permanent home in a timely manner is a top priority for DCS, and these supports play vital roles in accomplishing that.

Currently, families receive at least 50 percent of the amount the child was entitled to while in foster care and may negotiate higher amounts based on the individual circumstances of the child and family. With the change to 100 percent, caretakers across the state will be equipped more than ever to provide for the needs of Hoosier children. This step will also eliminate the need for most financial negotiations and help remove a barrier that can delay permanency for children.

DCS Director Eric Miller, MPA, MBA, noted that nearly 2,000 Indiana children find permanent homes through adoption and more than 1,000 others find permanency through guardianship each year.

“We often hear from families who are interested in adoption or guardianship, but they worry they might not be able to afford the additional costs that are necessary to meet a child’s needs,” Miller said. “By making assistance more readily available, we are creating more opportunities for Hoosier children to find their forever home and better supporting the families who make that happen.”

This change is the latest move by DCS to remove barriers to permanency for Indiana children. In July 2023, with approval from the Indiana General Assembly, DCS implemented a kinship stipend program to support unlicensed kinship caregivers. These individuals can be a relative, godparent, stepparent or another person with whom the child has a close personal connection. More than half of all Indiana children in foster care are currently placed in kinship care. As of the end of May, DCS has issued more than $10.1 million in stipends, benefiting more than 4,000 children in unlicensed kinship placements.

Information on the Indiana Adoption Assistance Program can be found here. Details about the Guardianship Assistance Program are available here. To learn more about Indiana’s adoption program, visit https://www.indianaadoptionprogram.org/.

More information about kinship care and the support available can be found here.

About Indiana DCS: The Indiana Department of Child Services leads the state’s response to allegations of child abuse and neglect and facilitates child support payments. We consider the needs and values of all we serve in our efforts to protect children while keeping families together whenever possible.

"Children will live in safe, healthy and supportive families and communities." If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, call the Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline at 800-800-5556.

Senator Braun, Ranking Member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, introduced four bills highlighting his priorities for the Older Americans Act (OAA) reauthorization. These bills address long-term care programs, nutrition programs, national resource centers, and disease prevention and wellness programs for seniors. The OAA was last reauthorized in 2020 and will expire on September 30, 2024.

“Every American deserves to live their golden years with dignity and respect. The priorities I have introduced for the Older Americans Act reauthorization ensure essential services are delivered efficiently for older Americans so they can continue to lead healthy, productive, and meaningful lives independently or in care homes.” — Senator Braun

Senator Braun introduced the following bills:

1. The Long-Term Care Transparency Act with Senator Bob Casey, Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, aims to increase transparency by requiring the Administration on Aging to collect and report findings by States’ Long-Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman programs to Congress. States’ LTC Ombudsman programs resolve problems related to the health, safety, welfare, and rights of people living in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other residential care settings.“Long-term care ombudsmen provide an essential service, ensuring that nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other residential care communities are providing quality care for older adults and people with disabilities. Congress has an obligation to empower these workers and provide them with the resources they need to keep our seniors safe. This new bipartisan bill will give Congress more information about the needs of long-term care ombudsmen around the Nation, allowing us to assess their needs and help them do their jobs.”—Senator Bob Casey (D-PA)

Endorsements: National Association of State Ombudsman Programs, Elder Justice Coalition, ADvancing States, and National Council on Aging

2. The Innovative Nutrition for Seniors Act with Senator Gary Peters would increase local flexibility to improve the reach of nutrition services under OAA.

Endorsements: National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and National Council of Aging

3. The Evidence-Informed Health Promotion Act would allow health and wellness programs to be evidence-informed to expand the reach of services, particularly for seniors living in rural areas.

Endorsements: USAging, ADvancing States, and National Council of Aging

4. The Senior Center Transparency Act aims to increase transparency and give policymakers more information on how resource centers are serving older Americans.

By: Becky Killian, Staff Writer

A petition signed by 27 city residents who are concerned about untidy properties was submitted to city officials.

Paula Pennington presented the petition during the Monday, June 10, meeting of the Salem Common Council.

The areas of concern were described as the 500 to 700 blocks of Hayes Avenue, Salem Avenue, and the 500 to 700 blocks of College Avenue. Paula Pennington said this area has overgrown lawns, abandoned homes, and junk-filled yards that the residents fear are devaluing their properties. She also said the abandoned properties are being used by squatters.

The petition urges the city to take stronger action against the property owners, such as imposing higher fines against those who violate city code. It was noted that the area’s residents have complained to the city about the problem properties numerous times, but no improvement has been made.

Paula Pennington said she has spoken to an attorney who said there are legal options she could take but she would prefer for the city to enforce its own codes.

Jake Vissing, the city’s attorney, said there is a legal process the city must follow before it can come onto private property. He noted that the “unfortunate aspect” of code enforcement is that the violations can continue while the city completes the required due process.

Councilman Roger Pennington, who explained that Paula Pennington is his mother, said he believes the city should do more.
“I think we need to push a little harder,” Roger Pennington said.

Mayor Justin Green said that city officials are familiar with all the properties of concern in the area outlined by Paula Pennington.
“It’s very aggravating to the administration,” Green said.

He said the city will continue to work to resolve the concerns.

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is alerting Hoosiers of important consumer protection concerns for products recalled in May. The office encourages consumers to take advantage of opportunities available for those who purchase recalled items that could be harmful to their families.   

“Summer is in full swing, and that means you and your family will be spending more time outdoors,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Don’t let the beautiful weather be ruined by an outdoor item breaking down. If you have one of the recalled products, stop using it immediately and pursue resolution from the manufacturer immediately.”

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the following consumer products were recalled in May: 

If you believe you recently purchased a recalled product, stop using it, and check its recall notice (linked above for all products). Then follow the notice’s instructions, including where to return the product, how to get the product fixed, how to dispose of the product, how to receive a refund for the product, or what steps must be taken to receive a replacement product.  

To view recalls issued prior to May visit the Consumer Protection Safety Commission website.   

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is challenging a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rule as part of a new lawsuit that seeks to force medical providers to perform surgeries and administer hormones to both children and adults for the purpose of gender transition.

“The Biden administration will stop at nothing to impose its radical transgender ideology on Hoosiers and all Americans,” Attorney General Rokita said. “These HHS bureaucrats are illegally weaponizing the U.S. healthcare system in this misguided quest. With our lawsuit, we aim to protect common sense, science and the rule of law — not to mention the physical and mental health of people experiencing gender dysphoria.”

The rule redefines the Affordable Care Act’s prohibition against discrimination on the basis of “sex” to include “gender identity.” The rule deems doctors guilty of discrimination for hewing to the scientifically grounded reality that males and females have different anatomies and physiologies that require different kinds of care.

In 2016, federal courts struck down as unlawful a similar rule sought by the Obama administration.

The Biden administration’s rule could cause significant damage to Indiana and the 14 other states that signed on to the lawsuit – places where medical providers have restrictions against performing gender-transition interventions on minors.

Covered entities found non-compliant with this new HHS rule risk the loss of significant federal funding — including the loss of billions of dollars in state Medicaid funding designed to assist low-income individuals. They also risk exposure to civil liability through private lawsuits.