budget

We know the sobering headlines on the economy and the implications of the District's local budget shortfall on services for your children and families. The message is clear and profound: Safety nets are being slashed and we will have to do more with less. I hear it from providers, parents and fellow advocates. There is a real risk of federal government shutdown. But the fact is, members of Congress do have a choice - they could either make things much worse, or they could mitigate the harm to our most vulnerable citizens. We need to make sure they make the right choice.

Happy New Year! 2011 started with a bang for DC Action for Children. We are feeling reinvigorated, excited and positively fizzy about the year ahead -- and we've already gotten a running start and have been very busy  (hence please excuse the fact that my first post of the year is five days late!).

There was no one celebrating Tuesday when the D.C. Council gave preliminary approval to a budget to fill the city's $188 million gap. Funding for critical safety-net programs was slashed, including basic income assistance to thousands of families with children.