University Park, Indianapolis–Today, over 30 Hoosier Moms and families gathered in Indianapolis to celebrate the new monthly child tax credit. Moms from rural and urban Indiana held a press conference and paraded with their children to Senator Young’s Indianapolis office to raise public awareness about a brand new and historic $300 per child tax credit that Indiana families will soon be receiving monthly. The event was part of a “Keep Families Afloat” Week of Action to raise awareness of the new credit ahead of the payments being distributed to families on July 15th. 

Beginning July 15, families will begin receiving monthly cash payments of $250-$300 per child until the end of the year as a part of the American Rescue Plan. The newly expanded Child Tax Credit is poised to slash child poverty by giving families with children monthly support to help meet basic needs. 94% of Hoosier families with children under 18–that’s 1,453,000 children–are expected to receive the monthly cash payment from July-December, 2021. It is anticipated that the program will lift 80,000 Hoosier children above the poverty line.

At the press conference, Moms Organizer Eva Bell was joined by single Mom and Hoosier Action LaToya Tahirou, both of whom underscored how the expanded tax credit will help support their families and families across the state like them: “Like many others, I stress over financial obligations.We need more options that will put people on a road to self-sufficiency. . . The child tax credit gives people relief from financial strain that contributes to poor mental and physical health, which causes parents to struggle to meet the needs of their children.”

The importance of the new direct cash payments for both Hoosier families and the Hoosier economy was underscored by childcare provider, Tamara Harris, whose business was forced to shutter due to the pandemic: “During COVID-19 our families had to face major financial strain and hardships. Parents were forced to face the reality of losing their jobs. Childcare programs struggled to maintain at a capacity level and stay open, so we could be a support system to our families. Childcare centers like mine were closed because parents could no longer afford the cost.”

Mothers Victoria Ballard, Community Engagement Coordinator Indianapolis Healthy Start, and pediatrician Dr. Ariel Stilwell underscored the transformative impact the child tax credit could have on Hoosier children: “The child tax credit has the potential to make a huge difference in long term health and educational outcomes for Hoosier children,” explained Dr. Stilwell, “Children from poor families and neighborhoods are more likely than other children to develop serious health problems, including chronic illnesses and toxic stress. When children live in the stress of poverty, they can develop neuroendocrine dysregulation which contributes to chronic illness. About 1 in 5 children live in poverty, the child tax credit can lift nearly 10 million children above the poverty line. Evidence shows that raising the annual family income by only $3000 can have lasting increases in math and reading achievement in school and significant increase in SAT scores.” 

All speakers at the press conference urged Hoosier Members of Congress and Senators to work together to make the new tax credits permanent. Hoosier families then paraded together to Senator Todd Young’s office where they delivered postcards to his staff from Hoosier families, and asked for the Senator to support extending the child tax credit beyond this year.