The District of Columbia has a responsibility to effectively and efficiently manage its limited resources—particularly when it comes to D.C.’s youngest citizens, who have no voice to advocate for themselves.

DC Action for Children works with strategic partners and District leadership to ensure that the city's budget appropriately prioritizes the needs of young children. Research has proven that smart public investments in the early care and education of our most vulnerable young children greatly improves their chances of success in school and life and leads to significant cost savings in the long run.

Our work focuses on systematic reform to ensure a meaningful and transparent budget process, with a focus on allocations that ultimately impact the overall outcomes for young children.

FY 2012 Budget Hearings

Read DC Action's testimony at the budget hearing for DC Public Schools.

Read DC Action's testimony at the budget hearing for the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

FY 2011 Budget Gap-Closing

The District faced a $188 million budget gap in FY 2011 and critical programs serving the city's most vulnerable children and families were on the chopping block. Through the High 5 for D.C.'s Kids campaign, DC Action and partner organizations urged supporters to call and e-mail Council members to spare a few key programs. Partners, including DC Hunger Solutions, the Southeast Children's Fund, The Arc of DC and the Healthy Families/Thriving Communities Collaborative Council testified at the Council's budget hearing on the impact cuts would have.

As a result of our collective action, funding was fully restored for the Healthy Foods Act, which provides nutritious meals in public schools, and partially restored for child care and the Community Collaboratives, which work to prevent child abuse and neglect through outreach to at-risk families. However, funding for many other programs serving low-income families was slashed, making it a very ambivalent victory. The city faces even larger budget shortfalls in FY 2012.

Other Resources:

• Budget Toolkit for FY 2012 (DC Fiscal Policy Institute)
• DC Action for Children's Step-by-Step Guide to the District Budget Process