Expanding Child Care In Indiana

By: Spencer Deery

This year, the Interim Committee on Public Health, Behavioral Health and Human Services was asked to study many topics, including the need for child care throughout Indiana.

As a member of the committee, I participated in its final meeting of the year Wednesday, where we approved a report with proposals to address child care gaps throughout the state.

This is an infrastructure issue that is vital to our economy and workforce. A lack of access to affordable and high-quality child care can put families, employers and their customers in difficult positions. Finding ways to increase child care affordability and availability throughout the state should be one of the General Assembly’s highest priorities.

During Wednesday’s meeting, the committee unanimously passed a final report that makes several recommendations. These include addressing the shortfall of early child care workers by making employees hired by a licensed child care facility eligible for subsidies under the Child Care and Development Fund and On My Way Pre-Kindergarten program, designating child care credentials as a tuition-free option under the Workforce Ready Grant, and reducing the age requirement for working alone with infants and toddlers from 21 to 18.

Suggestions also include requiring the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration to publish a monthly dashboard with information about existing child care subsidies and for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to provide updates to the General Assembly on funds dedicated to supporting child care efforts through READI Grants and other programs.

While the committee has concluded its meetings this year, I look forward to continued discussion and hopefully action on this topic during the 2024 legislative session so we can open more avenues to get Hoosiers into the workforce and attain better jobs.

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Divesting Hoosier Assets from China

In an increasingly dangerous world, the Chinese Communist Party is working against America’s interests on a variety of fronts. Despite China’s track record of human rights abuses, unfair trade practices and foreign aggression, Indiana had over $1 billion of Hoosiers’ hard-earned money invested in Chinese Communist Party interests at the beginning of 2023.

That is why I supported a new law that required the Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS) to divest from Chinese investments. This law requires INPRS to divest from 75% of any holdings within four years and 100% within five years, but the state was already divested from nearly 82% of Chinese investments in July.

I am pleased INPRS is working ahead of schedule on this important initiative. Divesting from China is yet another way Indiana is working to be responsible with taxpayer dollars. As your state senator, I will continue to take a stand on issues that impact not only Hoosiers but all Americans.

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Volunteers Needed For De-Trash the Wabash

The Tippecanoe County Partnership for Water Quality is looking for volunteers for its De-Trash the Wabash event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 21, starting at Tapawingo Park.

Volunteers will help pick up trash along the banks of the Wabash River in several locations in Tippecanoe County.

Gloves, trash bags and trash grabbers will be provided.

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Addiction Recovery Grant Opportunity Available

The Tippecanoe Regional Opioid Settlement Community Committee has opened a grant for funding from the Opioid Settlement Funds for organizations working in opioid addiction recovery services.

Applications can be submitted now through 4 p.m. Oct. 31.

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21st Century Scholars Enrollment Now Open

Enrollment for the 21st Century Scholars Program, which pays up to 100% of tuition at Indiana public colleges, is now open through June 30 to Hoosier students in seventh or eighth grade.

Thanks to a new law, students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch are automatically enrolled and do not need to complete an application. However, students must meet other requirements to maintain their scholarship eligibility upon high school graduation and through college.

Families who meet income eligibility requirements and don’t receive free and reduced-price lunch will still need to apply.

– Spencer Deery is an Indiana State Senator serving District 23 which includes Fountain, Parke, Vermillion, Warren and portions of Montgomery and Tippecanoe counties.