STATEHOUSE (June 20, 2019) — The CarePortal, which aims to connect children and families to resources with the goal of keeping children out of the foster care system, has been implemented in seven churches across northeast Marion County, said State Sen. Andy Zay (R-Huntington).
In recent years, the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) has struggled to keep up with the surging number of cases in Indiana.
To address this issue, Zay authored Senate Enrolled Act 365 earlier this year, which introduced the CarePortal, connecting DCS, nonprofits, businesses and faith-based programs to strengthen child welfare resources in our communities.
The CarePortal, in collaboration with DCS, is now active in various churches and nonprofits in northeast Marion County.
“The intention of this platform was to help reduce the growing number of DCS cases and costs associated with caring for children in need by connecting children with available resources,” Zay said. “Seeing the success this pilot has had in northeast Marion County so far is incredible, and it provides assurance this platform is working. As additional churches and organizations adopt the CarePortal, I am hopeful more children and families across the state will benefit from it.”
To date, 36 Hoosier children have been served through the CarePortal platform, with an estimated economic impact of $22,817.
Twenty states have implemented the CarePortal in select communities, and more than 35,000 children and their families have had their real-time needs met by utilizing the platform since its rollout in 2015.
For more information on the CarePortal, visit careportal.org.
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Click here for a high-resolution photo of Sen. Zay.
