Indiana
State Government
Governor
Eric J. Holcomb (R)
State Senate
10
Democrats,
40
Republicans
State House
30
Democrats,
70
Republicans
Economic well-being - Indiana
Extreme poverty rate
0.1
Food insecurity
0.2
Minimum wage
7.3
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.3
Poverty rate
12.2%
Unemployment rate
3.6
Number of Black or African American children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment
Number of Hispanic or Latino children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment
Percent of individuals who are uninsured
7.5
Family - Indiana
Children in foster care
$10,563.00
Percent of children in immigrant families
13%
Percent of children living in single parent families
34%
Text messages, toiletries, and backpacks: Indiana gets creative with pre-K outreach in rural areas
NUVO, February 17, 2015: Poverty at root of many problems for Indiana children
"Poverty is among the biggest challenges faced by children in Indiana, according to the results of an annual Indiana Youth Institute summary. Although the economy is rebounding from the recession, the 2015 Kids Count Data Book finds 22 percent of children in the state are living in poverty."
Goshen News, January 14, 2015: Program designed to provide musical instruction to low-income students
"The workshop was organized by Horizon Education Alliance and several partners including Conn-Selmer Inc., Elkhart Community Schools and Goshen College. El Sistema is a music education program developed in Venezuela in 1975 by Jos̩ Antonio Abreu and is geared toward providing music instruction to students from low-income or under-served communities."
The Journal Gazette, November 21, 2014: Preschool grants offered to low-income Hoosier families
"Allen County families who meet certain income requirements can apply for prekindergarten educational grants from Indiana's Office of Early Education and Out-of-School Learning. The grant would cover the costs of enrolling children in an approved On My Way Pre-K program in public or private schools, licensed child care centers, licensed homes or registered ministries as long as those programs meet the requirements of a state-approved provider, according to the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration."
The San Francisco Chronicle, June 03, 2014: Indiana preschool program won't start this year
"Republican Gov. Mike Pence had touted the plan to pay for low-income children to attend early childhood programs as a top accomplishment of the 2014 legislative session. The bill approved by legislators called for the state Family and Social Services Administration to pick five counties around the state for a pilot program."
The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, May 30, 2014: Feds roll out school meal program
"More Allen County students could receive free meals next school year through a nationwide program designed to help children in high-poverty areas."