“This is a full circle moment… You all have been at the table for a long time, brainstorming, writing, giving feedback. You were there as we introduced the bill, you testified and advocated for it, and now you’re here to fund it.” TY @cmzparker5.bsky.social for your steadfast advocacy for SOUL.

DC's #AccessToJustice Initiative faces an 86% cut in the proposed FY27 budget. Last year, these funds helped us reach 1000's of children and families, including Danny. With our support, Danny has an IEP that meets his needs, and his mom credits our work in building confidence for her own advocacy.

New: Bowser's budget includes big cuts/major changes to mental health services in schools. Educators, parents and advocates are sounding the alarm, fearing the loss of the city's only mobile crisis response unit and other huge shifts impacting school clinicians: wamu.org/story/26/05/...

NEW: @alexkoma.bsky.social dives into DBH’s plan to move school-based behavioral health & youth crisis response in-house – w/o the staffing or budget to do so effectively. Our policy attorney Leah Castelaz sums it up: “We are staring down the barrel of major disruption.” @chmnmendelson.bsky.social

Yesterday we had a rare triple-threat panel at the CFSA budget oversight hearing📝🎤. Children's Law Center represents about half of the children currently in foster care — so we know how important it is that the key programs serving these youth are adequately funded. @cmzparker5.bsky.social

Last week, we delivered 1,000 postcards from DC residents to the Wilson Building to remind Council that TANF is still a lifeline. Despite the program’s proven role in reducing hardship & supporting well-being, DC lawmakers approved TANF cuts. Learn more: loom.ly/8RquEYE

We joined 100s of community members & legal org leaders to share why #AccesstoJustice matters. We urge Councilmember Brooke Pinto and the entire DC Council to fully fund the Initiative and protect legal services in the District. #dcciviljustice Read our testimony: https://ow.ly/xh7q50YVPVB

Children’s Law Center is proud to co-sponsor candidate forums next week with the Council for Court Excellence and dozens of partner organizations. Join us to hear where the mayoral and congressional candidates stand on public safety, justice and DC’s future. RSVP here: https://ow.ly/Q2QG50YP7B5

NEW: Parents, teachers, school leaders & community members call on DC leaders to preserve access to school-based behavioral health & youth crisis response services. The message is clear: We fear our children are going to fall through the cracks of DBH’s plan. childrenslawcenter.org/FY27Letter

Marea. Dayar. Princess. Justice. These are just four of the dozens of former and current foster youth who are paving a new legal pathway to help others exit care into permanency. They worked to develop the SOUL Act over more than two years – and are now advocating to get it past the finish line.

DC lawmakers should reverse the cuts to TANF to avoid pushing children deeper into poverty and hardship. Our latest report spotlights insights from mothers who have participated in TANF. dcfpi.org/all/punitive...

More young people in DC are leaving foster care with stable housing thanks to recent changes, but delays are still putting some youth at risk of homelessness. @streetsensedc.bsky.social shines a light on why getting foster youth connected to FUP vouchers * quickly* matters. https://ow.ly/CITH50YH73P

Passionate about safe, healthy housing a reality for all DC children and families? Children’s Law Center is #hiring a Policy Attorney/Analyst to advance our Healthy Housing portfolio—working with stakeholders across DC to drive systems change. #Apply today: https://ow.ly/jzPm50YCWe1

Big thanks to @cmcharlesallen.bsky.social for the opportunity to testify alongside partners like Legal Aid DC, in support of the DC Water bills package.

30 years. 60,000+ children and families. One unwavering mission. Learn about the three pillars that drive our fight to ensure every DC child has a strong foundation of family, health and education. Meet a few of the children at the heart of our work: https://youtu.be/56ceW_PMGEc?si=vSP82v8JOa22bJaA

Families Together Director, Jabeen Adawi, loves to read Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds with her kiddos. She shares: “This book shows bravery and amazing problem solving (by Jasper the rabbit AND the carrots!)” #CLCFavBooks 🎒✨

We are #hiring a Bilingual Community Paralegal to provide critical support in our brief service work, along with community and client outreach. This position is designed to advance our mission of providing high-quality legal services to children and families in DC. https://ow.ly/UCfU50YvXIb

We continue to push for systemic fixes within OSSE as students w/ disabilities miss school, wait hours for buses or are stranded w/o transportation. Parents & advocates share ongoing concerns about the little progress that’s been made in WTOP News' piece: https://ow.ly/ubuK50Ytz4l

This past week, we were thrilled to attend the @copaafape.bsky.social annual conference. Our team learned about the latest developments in special education law and strategies to strengthen advocacy for students with disabilities.

For D.C. families experiencing homelessness, the Rapid Rehousing program can be a shot at stability. But some participants say they exit without anywhere to live, once again. https://bit.ly/3MFv3CP

Donte Kirby of @streetsensedc.bsky.social covers ongoing concerns w/ Rapid Rehousing (RRH) and how it impacts numerous families across DC. Every year, we testify before DHS about the ineffective, costly and cyclical nature of the program - including poor case management. @cmfrumin.bsky.social

Too often, owners hide behind LLCs to avoid accountability—leaving tenants in unsafe housing conditions. As reflected in @dcattorneygeneral.bsky.social's recent case against Sam Razjooyan, beneficial ownership disclosures are critical to exposing REAL people behind repeat housing code violations.

We love the work that @childrenslawcenter.org does to find city-wide solutions that combat the longstanding impacts of poverty, racism and trauma, so that ALL DC children can thrive! (and are so proud to call you a Coalition member 😉) Read this year's recommendations: bit.ly/WeGotUsDC ❤️‍🔥

@fairbudgetdc.bsky.social has officially launched their FY27 Budget Platform & we are proud to support the call for @mayorbowser.dc.gov + local leaders to develop a budget that invests in care and sustainability🌱   Let's build a budget that takes care of DC's children and families! bit.ly/WeGotUsDC

Our newest Budget Platform is live! 🎉🎉🎉 "DC Takes Care of Our Own: A Budget for Care and Sustainability" is a deepening of our commitment to a shared vision of a DC with self-sustaining communities - ones that are TRULY invested in and cared for 🌱 Read the platform: bit.ly/WeGotUsDC #WeGotUsDC

Thank you @cmbrookepinto.bsky.social for listening as we shared the impact of DC’s Access to Justice Initiative during today's OVSJG hearing. These funds help us provide the legal services DC families need to get into healthier homes, improve their child’s education & increase family stability.

Weak oversight and inconsistent enforcement by DOEE have left families in unsafe housing for years, exposing children to lead poisoning and serious health risks. Delayed investigations and slow response times mean families wait months for action. Explained here by our Healthy Together Attorney:

Thank you @cmbrookepinto.bsky.social and @cmzparker5.bsky.social for strengthening protections for children and families by making meaningful improvements to DC's neglect statute. We look forward to the DC Council quickly passing the Statutory Neglect Amendment Act into law.

“If my children can’t eat, they can’t go to school and be productive.” -a DC mother, speaking on the importance of TANF. The planned changes to the TANF program will impact 15,000 children, pushing them deeper into poverty. https://loom.ly/5APsDuY

Planned changes to D.C.'s Temporary Cash Assistance for Needy Families will impact 15,000 children, pushing them deeper into poverty. @childrenslawcenter.org CEO Judith Sandalow and United Planning Organization CEO Andrea Thomas explain in this opinion piece:

This morning, the TANF is Still a Lifeline Coalition held a Council briefing on the District's only cash assistance program for families with children and the devastating impact of cuts. TY @cmfrumin.bsky.social and staff from other council offices for engaging in this important conversation.

Black history is American history. Black history is DC history. It lives in the communities we serve and the work we do with thousands of children and families across the District.

Thank you @cmzparker5.bsky.social for making key changes to the SOUL legislation in response to feedback from individuals with lived experience in DC's foster care system. We are excited for the bill to move to @cmbrookepinto.bsky.social's committee and then to the full Council!

⚖️BIG NEWS: We won an important federal court decision in Robinson v. DC —a major step toward fixing DC’s broken school transportation system for students with disabilities.

Now more than ever, we commit to upholding justice in every child’s life. At Children’s Law Center, we work every day to ensure that DC’s children have the foundation of family, health and education they deserve—and that systemic barriers are dismantled so all kids can thrive.

Our CEO @judithsandalow.bsky.social was honored yesterday as a Washingtonian of the Year by the @washingtonian.com 🎉 For 26 years, Judith has led Children’s Law Center with vision and determination – one that is focused on giving children a strong foundation of family, health and education.

Families Together Staff Attorney, Victoria Clark loved to read Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell as a child. She shares: “This book teaches you to be proud of the things that make you different”. #CLCFavBooks 🎒✨📚

We are thrilled to share that Children's Law Center CEO @judithsandalow.bsky.social has been recognized by @washingtonian.com as a 2025 Washingtonian of the Year. She joins nine other leaders who are making a difference throughout the region. Join us in congratulating her!

WaPo reporter Jonathan Edwards highlighted severe issues STILL plaguing the transportation system for students with disabilities in DC. We're back in court today, demanding improvements from OSSE to ensure every student has reliable transportation to school: https://ow.ly/iUHz50XSbHY

Happy holidays from all of us at Children’s Law Center 🎁 As we reflect on this year, we’re grateful for the families, partners and supporters we work with to advocate for DC children. Wishing our community a season filled with warmth, hope, and moments of rest as we look ahead to the new year.

Hundreds of students face major hurdles in receiving the right educational support and obtaining evaluations that identify learning disabilities. @daniellerobinette.bsky.social spoke as an expert witness before the DC Council, underscoring how systemic barriers deny meaningful access to education.

Our policy analyst Chris Gamble got a big shout out today for bringing a concrete solution to an urgent budget issue! Creating a 988 fee will ensure predictable funding as DC works to enhance its crisis response system. Thank you @chenderson.bsky.social for introducing this important bill.

SOUL is a youth-driven, new permanency goal for older youth in foster care. SOUL legally recognizes the circle of loving adults in an older youth’s life who are committed to their future. We are excited to keep moving this key legislation forward! @cmzparker5.bsky.social

ICYMI: Some happy news this week. 👏🏿👏🏻👏🏽TY @dcattorneygeneral.bsky.social for leading this fight. We stand with 700,000+ DC residents who want to defend Home Rule and protect our democracy.

👏🏿👏🏻👏🏽TY Practising Law Institute for featuring our class action lawsuit that aims to improve DC's bus system. Proud to work w The Arc of the United States, Washington Lawyers' Committee and McDermott Will & Schulte to fix the issues that impact 4,000+ students w disabilities. https://ow.ly/FEly50XtOT5

Tune in tmrw as @cmzparker5.bsky.social & @cmbrookepinto.bsky.social hold a hearing on a bill to establish SOUL, a new permanency goal for older youth in foster care. Individuals w/ experience in care will share why SOUL is needed & how they developed the bill with government agencies & partners.

Yesterday our new Policy Attorney Patrick Cothern testified in support of the Housing with Integrity Amendment Act of 2025. TY @cmlewisgeorgew4.bsky.social @cmcharlesallen.bsky.social @cmfrumin.bsky.social for introducing the bill & @brianneknadeau.bsky.social for your thoughtful questions!

Last week @cmzparker5.bsky.social introduced the SOUL Amendment Act, which will help older youth in foster care leave the system with legal, caring relationships and lasting supports as they take on adult responsibilities. Thank you CM Parker for bringing this important bill to the Council!

Last week marked the end of a 30-day federal emergency, but the reality is: DC children & families are not safer than they were a month ago. The ongoing federal interference, paired with massive budget cuts, continues to undermine stability and security in ways that don’t play out in the news. (1/3)

Thank you @washlaw4cr.bsky.social , @aclu-dc.bsky.social and our many other legal partners for filing this important Amicus. The ongoing presence of National Guard troops in DC weakens our democracy and puts our entire nation at greater risk.