Sens. Broden, Lanane look to DCS hearings for improvements

On August 22, Senate Democratic members of the Department of Child Services Interim Study Committee joined with their colleagues in the House of Representatives to discuss their concerns about the group’s mission and outline their objectives for future meetings.

In a media availability prior to the review committee’s first meeting, Senate Democratic Assistant Leader Tim Lanane and State Senator John Broden reinforced the importance of protecting Hoosier children and that their intention is to use the study committees as a mechanism to improve the current system.

In the same media availability, Democrats also called for two of the review committee’s meetings to be held in communities outside of Indianapolis. The proposed meetings outside the Statehouse would be in an effort to allow those who would like to participate in these hearings an opportunity to partake.

Hear statements from Sens. Lanane and Broden at today’s media availability:

SEN. LANANE: “The policy of the state of Indiana when it comes to the protection of our children is paramount…”

Length: (00:11)

SEN. LANANE: “We’re not going to cut corners when it comes to protecting our children…”

Length: (00:14)

SEN. LANANE: “We’re not going to hide our head in the sand…”

Length: (00:05)

SEN. BRODEN: “Clearly we know we are falling short in certain areas, and I hope we can use these hearings as an opportunity …”

Length: (00:11)

The Indiana Department of Child Services has recently been criticized for their implementation of a centralized child abuse and neglect hotline staffed by workers in Indianapolis. The Indianapolis call center serves as a single intake point for the entire state and determines which cases are delegated to local officials.

The entire August 22 committee meeting agenda was occupied by a lengthy presentation by DCS explaining the history of the agency from 2005 to present. Limited questioning by committee members was permitted following the four presentation.

View the Powerpoint Presentation given by the Dept. of Child Services to the DCS Study Committee>>

The Department of Child Services Interim Study Committee is set to meet again on September 5 to hear further testimony on the child abuse and neglect hotline.

Indiana’s unemployment rate up again to 8.2%

On Friday, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced that Indiana’s unemployment rate for July 2012 ticked up again to 8.2 percent. Indiana’s unemployment rate approached the U.S. rate of 8.3 percent. Ohio’s unemployment rate of 7.2 percent stood more than a full percentage point below Indiana’s while Michigan (9.0 percent), Illinois (8.9 percent) and Kentucky (8.3 percent) remained higher.

• County with the highest unemployment rate: Fayette – 11.3%
  
• County with the lowest unemployment rate: Dubois – 5.4%
  

Employment Report (LAUS)

• Labor Force Estimates for U.S., Indiana, MSAs, Counties, Cities
• Ranking of Indiana Counties by Unemployment Rate
• Indiana County Map with Unemployment Rates

Jobs Report (CES)

• Seasonally-Adjusted Employment Table for Indiana
• Non-Seasonally-Adjusted Employment Table for Indiana
• Detail Employment Listing- Stateside & MSAs

Preparing and paying for college

A college degree or advanced training can translate into a big payoff, not only individually but for Indiana’s economic success. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, students graduating with an associate’s degree had median weekly earnings that were more than 15 percent higher than students with only a high school degree in 2011.

Median weekly earnings for graduates with bachelor’s degrees were 64 percent higher than those earned by workers with only a high school degree in 2011. That’s a difference that adds up to more than $21,000 annually.

Pursuing higher education is an investment and can come at a significant financial cost. In 2010, graduating students owed on average $25,250 in student loans.

Below, find a collection of financial and planning resources for students preparing for college made available by Learn More Indiana. Also included are a handful of repayment options for college graduates now repaying student loans.