DC Council Unanimously Passes Kinship Care Month Recognition Resolution of 2023 For First Time in DC
To recognize the importance of kinship families in the District of Columbia and the many benefits kinship caregivers bestow on the children in their care as well as the many challenges they face when raising these children, and to declare the month of September 2023 as “Kinship Care Month” in the District of Columbia.
DC KinCare Alliance and DC Housing Authority Reach Settlement
DC KinCare Alliance and the DC Housing Authority are pleased to jointly announce that they have resolved their differences and reached a settlement in regard to the litigation pending between the parties in the US District Court for the District of Columbia.
DC Council Expands Access to Grandparent and Close Relative Caregiver Programs in FY 2024 Budget
The DC Council acted to ensure relatives caring for children with disabilities are treated fairly by providing that SSI should not be included in the calculation of household income and should not be deducted from the subsidy amount received under the Grandparent and Close Relative Caregiver Programs.
Summer 2023 Newsletter
Summer has arrived, and with June comes an incredible opportunity to shine a spotlight on our amazing children during Children’s Awareness Month! We want to emphasize the importance of raising our kids in safe and loving environments.
Washington Post Article: “Justice for Justyce: A baby left without a name, finally, gets one”
Executive Director Marla Spindel said “CFSA never told Yolanda she could serve as a foster parent to the baby — an arrangement that would have allowed her to receive financial support and get that birth certificate without delay.”
Washington Post Article: “How a baby, now 4 months old, was left without a name”
Executive Director Marla Spindel discusses how this happened in the context of CFSA diverting a child to live informally with a relative rather than removing the child to foster care.
DC KinCare Alliance Signs On To Letter To DC’s Tax Revision Commission
The letter urges DC’s Tax Revision Commission to make racial equity the goal of all its recommendations to the Mayor and DC Council.
DC KinCare Alliance Spring 2023 Newsletter
It’s hard to believe it’s already April! 2023 is moving fast and we want to share with you what our team has been working on as well as upcoming opportunities for you to support our children and families.
Executive Director Marla Spindel Testifies Before the DC Council Committee of the Whole FY 2024 Budget Hearing
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.
Executive Director Marla Spindel Testifies Before the DC Council Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety FY 2024 Budget Hearing
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.
Community Board Member Kymberly Holmes Testifies Before DC Council in Support of Legal Services Funding in the FY 2024 DC Budget
“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.”
Staff Attorney Caylyn Keller Testifies Before the DC Council Committee on Facilities and Family Services FY 2024 Budget Hearing
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.
Executive Director Marla Spindel Quoted in Courthouse News Service Article on Non-Safety Related Waivers for Kinship Foster Care Licensing
Ms. Spindel discusses the Biden Administration’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and explains that it is “invaluable to relatives to have those waivers in place so they can meet licensing requirements and have it done quickly.”
Deputy Director Stephanie McClellan Testifies Before DC Council Committee on Housing Budget Hearing
Ms. McClellan advocates for refunding the Emergency Rental Assistance Program this year, as well as increased funding for next year.
DC KinCare Alliance Signs On To Letter Asking the Mayor and DC Council to Increase ERAP Funding
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.
After More Than Three Years Of Hard Work, The DC Office of Ombudsperson for Children is a Reality!
Thank you Mayor Bowser for recognizing the importance of this critical Office and funding it in your FY 2024 Budget!
DC KinCare Alliance Chosen as Finalist for Exemplary Policy, Practice or Program Supporting Kinship Families
Our unique and innovative one-stop-shop approach to helping the DC kinship community has been recognized nationally. The Generations United Grandfamilies and Kinship Support Network selected us as one of only 20 finalists nationwide to be designated as an Exemplary Policy, Practice, or Program supporting kinship families.
Executive Director Marla Spindel and Community Board Member Quoted in Washington Post Article on Hidden Foster Care
“With diversion [hidden foster care], CFSA’s power is unchecked and it is answerable to no one, nor does it have to provide financial resources to caregivers or services to parents to facilitate their reunification.” Click READ MORE below to access the full article.
Managing Attorney Vicky Taplin Testifies Before the DC Council on Barriers for Caregivers to Access the Child Care Subsidy
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.
Community Board Member Mikeisha Blackman Testifies Before 2023 CSFA Performance Oversight Hearing
Ms. Blackman testified about her daughter who has special needs and how it is inequitable for SSI to be deducted from the caregiver subsidy.
Deputy Director Stephanie McClellan Testifies at 2023 DC Ombudsperson for Children Oversight Hearing
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.
Deputy Director Stephanie McClellan Testifies at 2023 CFSA Performance Oversight Hearing
Ms. McClellan testified about the DC caregivers subsidies and ways to make them more equitable.
Executive Director Marla Spindel Testifies at CFSA 2023 Performance Oversight Hearing
Ms. Spindel testified about the CFSA kinship navigator program, kinship diversion (also known as hidden foster care), and child fatalities and near fatalities.
Managing Attorney Victoria Taplin Testifies at Metropolitan Police Department 2023 Performance Oversight Hearing
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.
