Indiana Governor Signs Executive Order to Preserve Foster Care Survivor Benefits

See the order here.

“Gov. Mike Braun on Wednesday, May 13 signed an executive order directing the Indiana Department of Child Services to preserve survivor benefits for eligible youth in foster care. The goal is to ensure those payments stay with the child rather than being used to offset the cost of their care.”

“Under the order, the Department of Child Services will place those funds into protected accounts until a child leaves state custody.”

“”This executive order is about making sure dollars intended for a child are protected and used to support that child’s future,” Braun said.

Braun also signed a joint proclamation launching the “A Home for Every Child” initiative alongside U.S. Assistant Secretary for Family Support Alex Adams.

Indiana is now the 20th state to join the effort aimed at improving foster care systems and increasing the number of foster homes.

“One of the things it outlined was asking us to remove administrative burdens placed on states, and in return, get data from states to start a scorecard to see how states are doing,” Adams said.”

“Foster care advocate Joshua Oswald, who aged out of the system himself, called the announcement a meaningful step forward.

“I think when we think about the the many young people who age out of foster care, I think if we have real-time data on that and how we can better meet those young people’s needs as they’re transitioning into adulthood, I think it can go a long, long ways,” Oswald said.”

Gov. Braun signs order aimed at protecting future for foster children

[WTHR 5/14/26 by Logan Gay]

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