Rep. Vanessa Summers named as a child welfare fellow by the NCSL

INDIANAPOLIS – The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has named State Rep. Vanessa Summers (D-Indianapolis) as a child welfare fellow.

The NCSL is a bipartisan organization serving legislators throughout the country in an effort to create more effective state legislatures by promoting nonpartisan policy innovation and communication among legislators from different states.

NCSL officials chose Rep. Summers to be a member of this inaugural class because of her leadership on child welfare issues in the Indiana General Assembly.

“I am pleased to be chosen for this national Child Welfare Fellows Program,” said Summers. “Protecting children from neglect and abuse is critical. As legislators, it is our duty to make sure children have stable, safe and permanent living situations.

“State legislatures are largely responsible for the funding, structure and oversight of child welfare systems,” explained Summers.

“The future of our state depends upon positive policies regarding adoption, foster care, child maltreatment, kinship care, and other issues. I look forward to working with my legislative colleagues from every region in the country to develop compassionate and effective legislation to ensure policies that protect children.”

The NCSL’s Child Welfare Fellows Program will have three days of meetings in July and another two days in November to discuss child welfare issues and compare ideas. Child Welfare Fellows Program members will also participate in two webinars through January of 2019. The goal of the program will be to develop legislative initiatives to protect children so effective child welfare legislation can be introduced in state legislatures throughout the United States.