About the Institute

Indiana Institute for Working Families is a program of INCAA.

Overview of the Institute
The Indiana Institute for Working Families (Institute) was founded in 2004 with generous support from the Joyce Foundation. This initial support allowed the Institute to complete a number of research projects and reports independently and in conjunction with national groups which helped establish the Institute as a resource for reliable information on low-income workers in Indiana. The Joyce Foundation awarded the Institute a two-year grant in 2005, allowing us to build upon our successes, create a solid foundation, increase our presence in the state, and build our reputation.

The Institute remains the only statewide program in Indiana that combines research and policy analysis on federal and state legislation, public policies and programs impacting low-income working families with organized advocacy. The goal of the Institute is to work to help Hoosier families achieve and maintain economic self-sufficiency. The Institute achieves this goal by addressing the changing needs of low-wage workers and families in Indiana through innovative research and by focusing its activities on the following areas: Public policy research and analysis; advocacy, education, and information; and National, statewide, and community partnerships.

The Institute focuses on a range of policy issues affecting low-wage workers, including transitional support programs such as: the Earned Income Tax Credit, Food Stamps, child care, public health insurance programs; and workforce development issues such as: unemployment insurance, workers compensation, post-secondary education, and job training. In addition, the Institute is interested in policies and programs that involve job placement, retention, and advancement for low-income workers and is currently doing research within these areas.

Indiana officials and administrators will consider a number of critical issues and public polices in the coming years that will impact the Indiana economy, labor market, and low-wage workers and families. Decision makers need to understand how to assist the low-wage, low-skilled workforce and help families reach economic self-sufficiency while at the same time meet the State’s labor and economic needs.

The Institute will continue to be a statewide source of expertise and a catalyst to further the debate that work alone is not enough, and that the educational and training needs of Indiana’s workforce must be addressed in order for Indiana to compete in our national and global economy. The Institute plans to build upon our success to impact public policy issues through continued outreach, education and research.

Who Benefits From the Work of the Institute?
Our activities benefit low-wage workers and families including: workers and families of various ages and races with incomes generally below 200% of poverty and individuals who have barriers to work such as low literacy, issues with domestic violence, addiction, health care problems, and mental illnesses.

The audience served by the Indiana Institute for Working Families includes: policymakers, legislators, private sector stakeholders, public/private partners, service providers, community and state college stakeholders, workforce stakeholders, advocates, and the public.

Institute Staff

Sarah Downing, Research and Policy Analyst
sdowning@incap.org

Jessica Fraser, Research and Policy Analyst
jfraser@incap.org

Lisa Travis, Team Leader, CAA Network Support
ltravis@incap.org