Publications, Presentations & Testimony

Can the separation of a parent and child, without a court review or due process and often without a plan for reunification, after the insistence and involvement of a child welfare agency ever be truly “voluntarily”? By Angie Schwartz and Cathy Krebs

Relevant Publications of Other Organizations

Child Welfare Monitor DC: Advocacy Group Files Unprecedented Lawsuit Challenging Kinship Diversion in DC

March 31, 2020

DC KinCare Alliance files federal lawsuit against DC’s kinship diversion practice alleging violations of state and federal laws. By Marie Cohen

DC KinCare Alliance Presentations

Federal and Local COVID Emergency Legislation April 21, 2020 Update Webinar

April 20, 2020

Deputy Director Stephanie McClellan discusses how to make sure you receive your Federal Stimulus Payments and avoid getting scammed.

DC KinCare Alliance Testimony

Executive Director Marla Spindel Testifies at DC Council Budget Oversight Hearing (May 22, 2020)

May 22, 2020

Ms. Spindel warns of the detrimental impacts to children from the DC Child and Family Services Agency FY 2021 budget cuts to essential child protection programs and services, including the DC Grandparent Caregiver Program and Prevention Services.

DC KinCare Alliance Presentations

Connecting Caregivers: Supports for Grandparents and Children

August 10, 2020

Marla and Stephanie provide an online training for DC Volunteer Lawyers Project Attorneys on benefits available to relatives caring for children in DC. Access the training video here: https://vimeo.com/446513878/135800742c

DC KinCare Alliance Testimony

Deputy Director Stephanie McClellan Testifies Before DC Council Department of Human Services Roundtable on CFSA COVID Response (November 4, 2020)

November 4, 2020

DC KinCare Alliance Policy Papers

Petition To Repeal Suspension of FOIA Responses During the Public Health Emergency

November 12, 2020

DC Council arbitrarily suspended requirements for DC gov’t to respond to FOIA requests during the public health emergency. We drafted a Petition to the DC Council to repeal the suspension with over 100 sign-ons. In response to our Petition, the DC Council unanimously voted in favor of the FOIA Tolling Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 […]

DC KinCare Alliance Presentations

DC KinCare Alliance Presentation for the DC Family Success Centers Legal Services Panel

January 14, 2021

We enjoyed presenting to the 10 DC Family Success Centers with Bread for the City, DC Volunteer Lawyers Project, First Shift Justice, Legal Counsel for the Elderly, and Tzedek DC.

DC KinCare Alliance Testimony

Deputy Director Stephanie McClellan Testifies Before the DC Council Committee on Human Services Performance Oversight Hearing

February 25, 2021

Stephanie testifies about the DC Child and Family Services Agency’s illegal and discriminatory diversion practices, as well as the increase in DC child maltreatment fatalities.

DC KinCare Alliance Testimony

Deputy Director Stephanie McClellan Testifies at DC Department of Human Services Oversight Hearing

March 1, 2021

Stephanie testifies on the significant barriers to access TANF benefits for kinship families.

DC KinCare Alliance Testimony

Deputy Director Stephanie McClellan Testifies Before DC Council Child Fatalities

March 11, 2021

Stephanie testifies about the failures of the DC Child Fatality Review Committee to timely review child fatalities and report meaningful information to reduce fatalities in the future. She also recommends that the law require the Committee to review cases of near child fatalities.