Foellinger Foundation and Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) partner to present the 2026 Allen County State of the Child event on April 29, 2026, at McMillen Family Pavilion at Franke Park.
This event brings together community members who support, influence, or care about the well-being of young people, including frontline youth workers and educators, nonprofit leaders, funders, advocates, and decision-makers. Join us as we discuss IYI’s 2026 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, a trusted, research-based assessment of child well-being across Indiana. We’ll take a closer look at the data to better understand where our community is making progress and where additional focus is needed.
Doors open at 8:00 AM for connection time and breakfast.
Guests will enjoy a buffet breakfast. Free, accessible parking is available on-site adjacent to the building. We recommend using the Goshen Road entrance, which offers the easiest, most direct route to the building.
This event is open to the public. RSVPs are required.
Why This Data Matters
At Foellinger Foundation, we are deeply committed to using data to inform action. We see evaluation as a practical tool—one that helps organizations strengthen programs, demonstrate impact, and move individuals and families from in-crisis to thriving and from dependence to independence.
Our hope is that the insights shared at this event will:
Help grantees and partners inform and strengthen their work.
Support measurable outcomes for children, youth, and families.
Spark conversations about what the data reveals to encourage collaboration and create actionable plans that create positive change for Allen County youth.
Panelists
Tami Silverman, Moderator
President and CEO
Indiana Youth Institute
Susan Baier
Executive Director
Allen County Public Library
Mark Daniel, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Fort Wayne Community Schools
Drew Williams
Executive Director
Youth for Christ of Northern Indiana
About Indiana Youth Institute
Since 1988, Indiana Youth Institute has been dedicated to improving the lives of all Indiana children by strengthening and connecting the people, organizations, and communities focused on kids and youth. IYI provides critical data, capacity-building resources, and innovative training for nearly 2,500 diverse youth-serving organizations and nearly 20,000 youth workers each year. IYI has a long history of actively listening to Indiana’s youth workers and community leaders, leveraging their feedback to facilitate collaboration and promote problem-solving and collective advocacy on a statewide scale.
Contact Information
Have questions? Please contact Lisa Pickerman, Program Officer, at lisa@foellinger.org.