Ms. Spindel testifies about the need to fully fund the Access to Justice Initiative in DC’s FY 2024 Budget so that DC legal services organizations can continue to provide desperately needed legal services to those most in need in our community.

Ms. Spindel asks the DC Council to fully fund the Access to Justice (ATJ) Initiative so that DC legal services organizations can continue to serve those most in need in our community in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am asking you to please make sure to fund the ATJ Initiative so DC KinCare Alliance can continue to help DC residents like me.”

Ms. Keller testified regarding the DC Child and Family Services Agency’s FY 2024 Budget, and advocated for changes to the caregivers subsidies to increase income eligibility thresholds and eliminate unnecessary deductions from the rate.

Ms. McClellan advocates for refunding the Emergency Rental Assistance Program this year, as well as increased funding for next year.

The letter requests $50 million in emergency funding to the District’s primary eviction prevention tool, the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), and to provide deeper oversight of this critical program.

Thank you Mayor Bowser for recognizing the importance of this critical Office and funding it in your FY 2024 Budget!

Ms. Taplin testified that the DC State Superintendent of Schools that administers the DC child care subsidy program restricts access to caregivers who have a custody order, thereby excluding caregivers who are acting “in loco parentis” to children, as permitted by federal law.

Ms. McClellan testified about the importance of the Office and how it can be most successful in helping to ensure the safety and security of DC children and families.

Ms. McClellan testified about the DC caregivers subsidies and ways to make them more equitable.

Ms. Spindel testified about the CFSA kinship navigator program, kinship diversion (also known as hidden foster care), and child fatalities and near fatalities.

Ms. Taplin testified about MPD’s failure to investigate allegations of child abuse or neglect, and the fact that MPD does not have any guidance on how or why a determination is made not to investigate such an allegation, nor any requirement for a rationale to be provided for same.