by Katie Springer and Jesse Lewis

The new website for the Indiana State Library is now available for browsing. Feel free to let us know of anything that might be useful to your library and patrons, including identifying broken links or updating information. The Indiana Office of Technology (IOT) will provide updates to the web portals of state agencies throughout the new year. Please see http://in.gov/2150.htm for the IOT press release and http://www.in.gov/iot/2417.htm for the redesign schedule and status of updates to each state agency’s website. This November, the Indiana Business Research Center (IBRC) released a new version of their STATS
Indiana website. STATS Indiana is a portal to federal and state statistics at the city and county levels. The website is maintained by the Indiana Business Research Center (IBRC) of Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. The Indiana State Data Center (located at the Indiana State Library) has enjoyed a long partnership with the IBRC; and works closely with it and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (IDWD) and the Indiana Geographic Information Council (IGIC) to provide Indiana libraries, citizens, and businesses access to current and historical statistics generated by federal and state government agencies. Please take a look at these new tools; and feel free to provide us with feedback from you and your patrons.

Indiana State Library: http://www.in.gov/library
Indiana State Data Center (SDC): http://www.in.gov/library/3092.htm
Indiana Business Research Center: http://www.ibrc.indiana.edu
Stats Indiana, from the IBRC:  http://www.stats.indiana.edu

CHILD SAFETY

Keeping kids safe year-round is a weighty undertaking for any adult working with children, whether as a parent, caregiver, or educator.  Use the following resources to learn about car safety, health at home, and picking an appropriate care provider:

The Indiana Council on Impaired and Dangerous Driving offers information about Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Training.  CPS-certified trainers will educate parents how to choose and install child safety seats, how to place children in approved seats and inspect seats to insure that they are safe and properly used.  Trainers conduct workshops at daycare centers, schools, prenatal and parenting classes, and for any organization who is interested.  Visit the Council on Impaired and Dangerous Driving website to find out how to schedule a CPS training class or learn how to become a NHTSA-certified CPS trainer yourself. 

Indiana Council on Impaired and Dangerous Driving: http://www.in.gov/cji/council/resources-child.html

You’ve probably noticed the Indiana specialty license plate featuring the painted handprints of a child, but do you know what organization it supports?  The Kids’ First Trust Fund is the recipient of funds from the sale of this license plate.  The Kids’ First program is sponsored by the Indiana Department of Child Services, and its mission is to promote the health of children and reduce infant mortality by funding programs which prevent child abuse and neglect.  License plate monies help provide parenting education and workshops statewide and are helping to develop a voluntary family support program to prevent abuse.  The Kids’ First website links to information from the BMV about the specialty license plate and provides information about donating directly to the program.  Educational brochures and posters in English and Spanish are also available for download. 

IN Dept. of Child Services, Kids’ First Trust Fund: http://www.in.gov/dcs/2885.htm
The Family and Social Services Administration Child Care Locator tool helps parents find licensed child care facilities in their area for both home care and child care centers.  Licensed child care facilities must maintain certain standards of care and are inspected routinely by FSSA for compliance with safety regulations.  Some child care facilities, such as ministry facilities and very small home facilities are permitted to operate unlicensed. The Locator tool indicates the number of children cared for at each facility, contact information for the provider and links to any non-compliant inspection findings and complaints against the facility. 
Indiana laws and regulations governing licensed and unlicensed facilities may be viewed as well.  The U.S. Health and Human Services Department also offers tips on choosing a safe child care facility in their Parents’ Guide to Choosing Safe and Healthy Child Care. The department’s Child Care Bureau funds a national network of child care resource and referral services called Child Care Aware. Visit their website for basic consumer information such as Licensing and Accreditation. Plus, find an array of basic resources on topics such as Fatherhood and Preparing for Disaster: The Parent View.

Family & Social Services Administration Child Care Locator: https://secure.in.gov/apps/fssa/carefinder/index.html

Indiana Child Care Facility Laws and Regulations: http://www.in.gov/fssa/carefinder/3250.htm

Parents’ Guide to Choosing Safe and Healthy Child Care: http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/ccquality-ind02/guide.pdf

Child Care Aware, in English:  http://www.childcareaware.org/en
Child Care Aware, in Spanish: http://www.childcareaware.org/sp

SAFETY AT WORK

The INSafe division of the Indiana Department of Labor provides free training and consulting services for Indiana’s employers, employees, labor unions, professional groups, and trade organizations to ensure workplace health and safety.  The INSafe website has links to request a consultation or seminar at your worksite, as well as informational brochures and video presentations about workplace safety.  You can also find out more about the Governor’s Workplace Safety Awards and the INSHARP recognition program for organizations with exemplary safety programs.

Indiana Department of Labor: http://www.in.gov/labor/insafe

SAFETY EDUCATION
Are you interested in a public safety career?  The Indiana Department of Homeland Security offers information about obtaining Emergency Medical Services or Fire certification as well as a calendar of professional safety training classes.  The Indiana State Police is another public safety agency that offers a wealth of information about various career paths in their agency

IN Dept of Homeland Security, EMS/Firefighting Certification: http://www.in.gov/dhs/2353.htm

Public Safety Class Schedule: https://oas.in.gov/hs/training/public/calendar.do

Indiana State Police Careers: http://www.in.gov/isp/2741.htm