Indy Standard

The Indiana House has approved legislation introduced by State Representative Elizabeth Rowray aimed at expanding child care assistance for foster families. The bill, known as House Bill 1248, seeks to extend eligibility for the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program to households with foster parents, irrespective of the number of biological children they have, provided they meet income requirements.

Rep. Rowray expressed satisfaction with the House's decision, stating, "I'm proud to see the House support this bill as it would be a big step forward to ensure foster families receive needed assistance." She emphasized that expanding CCDF eligibility would help reduce financial strain related to child care and enable foster parents to concentrate on creating stable and nurturing environments for children in their care.

A report from Sevita highlights the need for such measures, noting that over 11,000 Hoosier children are available for adoption while only 4,500 foster homes exist. With rising child care costs due to inflation, many families find it challenging to afford these services even for their biological children. Rowray's legislation proposes exempting foster families from additional CCDF voucher eligibility criteria that non-foster families must meet, aiming to provide equal access.

Rep. Rowray invites constituents to offer feedback on the legislation through her website or by phone. The bill will now proceed to the Senate for further deliberation.

For additional details about House Bill 1248 and its progress, interested parties can visit iga.in.gov.

State Rep. Elizabeth Rowray represents Indiana's House District 35, which covers parts of Delaware and Madison counties.