DC Action for Children works in partnership with government, advocates and providers to bring positive and lasting change for D.C.’s youngest citizens. We regularly testify before the D.C. Council and when necessary, we will draft legislation backed by evidence and best practices.

Behind the Scenes Impact

In January 2011, DC Action worked with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) and Council Chairman Kwame Brown’s office to reconcile a critical discrepancy in existing family child care regulations. Newly revised regulations from OSSE would have allowed licensed child development homes to serve no more than five children under a 1970s law, whereas previous regulations under a different city agency had allowed them to serve up to six children, despite the law. DC Action interceded to ensure that the new regulations would be phased in, so that nearly 100 children and families would not lose critical child care overnight. Read the analysis we prepared.  

Performance Oversight Hearings (FY 2010 - 2011)

Child and Family Services Advocacy Roundtable

DC Action for Children Executive Director HyeSook Chung addressed the Committee on Human Services at a roundtable meeting to hear advocates' views of the District's Child and Family Services agency. HyeSook noted that data from the 2010 D.C. KIDS COUNT Fact Book show that substantiated reports of child abuse and neglect rose by 29 percent in FY 2009, after a two-year decline. The spike may reflect the fact that vulnerable families were under increased stress and hardship during the economic recession. It also may reflect increased vigilance and follow up by the agency in the wake of the tragic Banita Jacks case in early 2008.

Read her remarks here.

Office of the State Superintendent of Education

DC Action for Children Executive Director HyeSook Chung testified at the Performance Oversight hearing for the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). She stressed the need to expand access and improve quality in infant toddler care across the city, and in particular in Wards 5, 7 and 8, where it is most critically needed. She explained that it is not a matter of simply increasing slots, but giving providers the support and resources they need to expand and improve, including incentives that make it viable from a business standpoint.

Read her testimony here. 

DC Public Schools

DC Action for Children Executive Director HyeSook Chung testified at the Performance Oversight hearing for DC Public Schools (DCPS). She highlighted the Office of Early Childhood Education's success in "blending" Pre-K and Head Start classrooms in Title I schools, reaching more children with a comprehensive approach to early learning that prepares them for kindergarten.

Read her testimony here.

2011 Bills

"South Capitol Street Tragedy Memorial Act" (Bill 19-0211)

DC Action for Children and partners testified on June 2 before the Committee of the Whole on this important piece of legislation that seeks to strengthen behavioral health services for children and youth. Read copies of testimony:

• DC Action for Children
• Adair Parr, M.D., J.D., Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Society of Greater Washington
• Alliance for Justice and Education
• Healthy Families/Thriving Communities Collaborative Council
• DC Behavioral Health Association

DC Action analyzed the South Capitol St. bill, finding several areas where it could be strengthened. This memo summarizes our findings.

2010 Bills

Healthy Schools Act of 2010 (D.C. Law 18-209)

DC Action for Children Executive Director HyeSook Chung testified in support of full implementation of the Healthy Schools Act at a public hearing on Dec. 9, 2010.

Read the testimony here.

Pre-K Acceleration and Clarification Amendment Act of 2010 (Bill 18-605)

DC Action and partner organizations testified at a public hearing on legislation concerning universal Pre-K in the District on March 31, 2010. Read copies of testimony:

• DC Action for Children
• DC Appleseed
• Empower DC
• National Black Child Development Institute