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1981:
The federal government cobbled together several
separate human service programs into the Social Services
Block Grant (SSBG), giving states greater leeway in how
monies could be spent. In response, social service
and advocacy groups as well as individuals came together
to form the Indiana Coalition for Human Services (ICHS).
Its purpose was simple and clear: assure that the most vulnerable
and needy Hoosiers would continue to benefit from SSBG services.
The 1980s:
ICHS worked to assure that optimal service to clients remained a priority when the structures for administering services changed first by the creation of the Indiana Department of Human Services, then by the consolidation of county welfare offices into the Department of Welfare, and finally by consolidating into the Family & Social Services Administration (FSSA).
1992:
ICHS published Moving Forward: Investing in
Indiana’s Human Resources, a forceful analysis
of state spending with a focus on how it affects low-income
Hoosiers.
The 1990s:
ICHS advocated tax policies and budgeting priorities to meet basic human needs.
The 21st Century:
ICHS has been working hard to communicate effectively with lawmakers and bureaucrats during recessionary times to assure an economic and service safety net for vulnerable and needy Hoosiers.
Over the past quarter-century:
ICHS has consistently widened its base to strenghten
the effectiveness of our voice at the Indiana Statehouse,
working to shape legislation and administrative policies
on Indiana’s over-arching human service systems.
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