Family Impact Seminar 2011 Report

The 2011 Family Impact Seminar was held on November 21, 2011 in the Senate Chambers of the Indiana Statehouse and was well attended.

The topic "Jobs, Jobs, Jobs" was presented by: Dr. Robert Scott from the Economic Policy Institute, Washington, DC and Dr. Timothy Slaper from the Indiana University Business Research Center. Responses were made by: Representative Peggy Welch, Bloomington; Senator Jean Breaux, Indianapolis; Senator Earline Rogers, Gary; Senator Dennis Kraus, Auburn; and Senator Jean Leising, Oldenburg.

Their research emphasized the need for training for the unemployed. 400,000 manufacturing jobs were lost from 2003 to 2008 with an additional 200,000 jobs lost from 2008 to the current date. The mid central states including Indiana have lost the largest population because people are moving to states that have more employment opportunities available. Fewer people mean less tax revenue to support the state. There is no one solution that will solve the employment problem.

The seminar was sponsored by: The Consortium of Family Organizations (COFO), Purdue University Extension, Health and Human Sciences, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Ball State University, The Institute for Family and Social Responsibility, Indiana University, Center for Families, Purdue University, Indiana Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children, Family Service Council of Indiana, Indiana Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, Indiana Council on Family Relations, Indiana Division of Family and Consumer Sciences, Indiana Extension Homemakers Association, and Indiana Youth Institute.

The legislative advisory board members are: Senators, Jean Breaux, Indianapolis; John Broden, South Bend; Dennis Kruse, Auburn; Earline Rogers, Gary; Joseph Zakas, Granger; and Representatives John Day, Indianapolis; Bill Friend, Macy; Sheila Klinker, Lafayette; Kathy Kreag, Richardson, Noblesville; Jeff Thompson, Lizton; and Peggy Welch, Bloomington.

The Family Impact Seminars provide expert, non partisan information on a family-related topic of the legislator's choosing. We encourage Indiana legislators to consider the effect of new laws on Hoosier families, in the same routine manner that they consider the effect on business and industry and on the environment.

All of Indiana's previous Family Impact Seminars briefing reports can be located at: www.familyimpactseminars.org