Indiana’s public defender system flawed, study says, By Fatima Hussein, October 24, 2016, Indianapolis Star: “The state’s public defender system is not only woefully underfunded, legal experts say, the Sixth Amendment right to a fair and speedy trial is routinely violated in Indiana. Lack of oversight of the public defense system, inconsistent funding and subpar representation contribute to the problems, the experts said…”
Tag: Indiana
Aging Out of Foster Care – Indiana
From foster care to first-time homeowners, By Maureen C. Gilmer, July 20, 2016, Indianapolis Star: “As a child, Ronnisha Davis bounced from home to home. She lived with her mom, then in a foster home, then her dad, then another foster home, then an apartment when she was 17. Today, the 23-year-old is settling into her own house, purchased with ‘sweat equity’ on her part, as well as help from Habitat for Humanity andIndiana Connected By 25. The latter is a nonprofit that partners with United Way, the Department of Child Services and other organizations to support young adults before and after they age out of foster care (age 20 in Indiana). Among its programs are Opportunity Passport, which offers financial literacy classes, a matching savings plan and micro loans to build credit…”
Medicaid Expansion – Indiana
Indiana battling feds over Medicaid, By Maureen Groppe, June 20, 2016, Indianapolis Star: “Indiana remains at odds with the federal government over how to evaluate the state’s unique Medicaid program, a standoff that affects not only Indiana, but also other states looking to adopt Indiana’s model. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services gave Indiana a deadline of June 17 to finalize a data-sharing agreement on the jointly funded health care program for the poor. Instead, Indiana responded in a letter Friday that the federal government hasn’t satisfied the state’s concerns about data safety…”