DHS increases Food Stamp allotments

The Department of Human Services has just announced that effective April 1, Food Stamps will increase for "categorically eligible households" of one or two people.   According the the IMA policy manual, "Categorical eligibility for FS applies to households whose members are all current TANF and/or SSI recipients."   More information in the policy manual or by contacting Richard Walker in the IMA Policy Unit, richard[dot]walker[at]dc[dot]gov.

Public hearing on proposed discipline regs

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) has announced a March 10 public hearing on the proposed discipline regulations currently under consideration.   The hearing will be held from 6 - 8 pm at Elsie Whitlow Stokes Public Charter School, 3700 Oakview Terr. NE.   Details about the hearing are on page 6 at this link.

Mayor announces hearing on FY 2010 DCPS budget

The Executive Office of the Mayor has formally announced a public hearing on the FY 2010 DCPS budget; the hearing is being held on March 3 at 9:15 am.  Details are here.

FY 2010 budget event: What’s in Store for the FY 2010 budget?

Once again, DCFPI, the Arc, DC ACT, and Parents United are sponsoring this important event.    This year the focus is on critical FY 2010 DC budget issues and how the District will address a growing deficit.   The event is being held on March 6 from 9:30 – 11:30 am at the Goethe Institute, 812 Seventh St NW (near Gallery Place Metro Station).    NOTE:    NO food or drinks are allowed.

Panel 1:    Budget Outlook

• Bob Zahradnik, Office of Revenue Analysis, Office of the Chief Financial Officer
• Eric Goulet, Budget Director, Council of the District of Columbia
• William Singer, Chief of Budget Execution, Office of the City Administrator

Panel 2: Effective Budget Advocacy

• Staff, Council of the District of Columbia

To register, fax (202-234-9108) or email (dcaction@dckids.org) the following information:   Name, org (if applicable), complete mailing address, phone, fax, and email.

There is no cost for this forum, but pre-registration is requested.

Missed a hearing? No fear -- watch online

As amazing as advocates are, we just can't be in more than one place at the same time!   So be sure to take advantage of online, on-demand viewing of DC Council hearings; just go to OCT to catch what you missed.

New revenue projection portends tougher budget than many expected

As if the national news were not bad enough, we wake up to local falling revenue projections yet again.   David Nakamura and Nikita Stewart told the world that the city is facing an $800 million revenue loss for FY 2010; of that, $350 million is a new loss, announced this morning by Natwar Gandhi, the city's CFO.   Nakamura added to his first story in his D.C. Wire piece.

The challenge for advocates, providers and others:   Effecting change, advocating for a "good" budget for children, youth and families in this environment.   Many in the executive and legislative branches fear another budget season of what has been described as feeding at the public trough.   The elected and appointed officials I have talked with want to do right by people; the difficulty is doing it with close to $1 billion less in Local funds.   Any ideas on how we do our advocacy in this economic meltdown?   Email me your thoughts and I will share them with other loyal readerrs.

FY 2010 baseline limits growth

The Office of Budget and Planning recently posted the FY 2010 baseline budget on their Web site.   The baseline is an “expenditure budget” that “serves as a starting point for decision-making in the FY 2010 budget process, based on an analysis of agencies’ ongoing needs in the context of the current economic recession.”   (Transmittal letter)   One of the key elements of the baseline is that it is not what is referred to as a “current services budget.”   Rather, the starting point for an agency’s FY 2010 baseline is the Local funds target they were given in September 2008.

The FY 2010 baseline is $5.8 billion in Local funds, an increase of $312 million (5.7%) over the FY 2009 recurring budget of $5.5 billion.

Youth advocates meet with DCPS and you're invited!

The DC Alliance of Youth Advocates (DCAYA) is sponsoring another "Breakfast with DCPS" event -- 2/27 from 8:30 - 10:30 am -- to give OST providers an opportunity to learn from and inform DCPS officials.   The event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.   More information is here.   To receive future notices and/or to join DCAYA, the District's only advocacy collective for OST, go to the DCAYA Web site.

Public opportunity to comment on mayor's anti-crime bill

The Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary (Mendelson, chair) is holding a public hearing on Bill 18-138, “Omnibus Anti-Crime Amendment Act of 2009” on March 18 at 10:00 am in Room 412.    According to the hearing notice, the March 18 hearing is the first of two hearings on the legislation; witnesses can comment on any part of the bill on March 18.    The second hearing will focus on outstanding issues.    More info on the hearing from Heidi Tseu, (202) 724-8038, htseu[at]dccouncil[dot]us.

Mayor Fenty on public safety, 2/23 at 3:30

Mayor Adrian Fenty is scheduled to remark on OPM public safety projects on Monday, February 23 at 3:30 at Bowen Elementary School, 101 M St SW.   If you are planning on hearing the update, be sure to check with the mayor's press office to verify it is still on.

Youth-only Council hearing, March 14

Calling all young people -- tell the City Council what is on your mind!   The Committee of the Whole, chaired by none other than Council Chair Vincent Gray of Ward 7, once again reserves the Council Chamber for young people under the age of 21.   Details online.   Adults:   Watch Channel 13 (in DC) or on the computer.

New poverty guidelines

Forgive the delay in sharing, but here are the 2009 poverty guidelines from the feds.   The DC Department of Human Services has updated their eligibility levels based on the new federal guidelines. To view the DHS changes in the IMA policy manual, go here.

Child sexual abuse prevention trainings

Safe Shores-DC Children's Advocacy Center is sponsoring two important, useful and necessary trainings:   Stewards of Children.   The details are here and in a flier.

• Thursday, February 26, 2009, 5:00 - 8:00 pm -- registration deadline is February 24.   To register, contact Ms. Diamond Vann at (202) 638-2575 ext. 106 or dvann@safeshores.org.
• Wednesday, March 11, 8:30 - 11:30 am -- registration deadline is March 5.   To register, contact Ms. Jackie Dilworth at (202) 659-5135 or jdilworth@lgwdc.org.

Can't make these two trainings?   Contact Diamond Vann at (202) 638-2575 ext. 106 or dvann@safeshores.org to set something up.

Want to learn more about Stewards of Children? Read this general information sheet.   Want to learn more about Safe Shores?   Check out their Web site.

More must reads!!!!!

A self-described loyal blog reader has added to my list of must reads for advocates.   But before we get to the additions, I have to add that this reader is an amazingly dedicated advocate and provider who is an effective and compassionate leader and role model.   He is remaining nameless because that's the way he wants it.

The additions:

• D.C. Wire, the WaPo blog
• DCist
• Greater Greater Washington
• Greater Washington Initiative, not human services oriented, but useful in a broader context regarding planning issues in the region

So there we are.   More must reads.   Any more contributions?   Do tell!   Use the link on the right to email me your suggestions.

Healthy DC, Or Not?

Thanks to themail, the DC Watch regular email discussion list, we know that the Federation of Citizens Associations of Washington, DC is hosting Healthy DC, Or Not? on February 24.   The event will focus on the state and cost of DC's health care delivery system at its meeting on Tuesday, February 24, 6:45-9:00 pm, at The Charles Sumner School, 1201 17th St NW (at M St NW).   The guest speaker, Councilmember David Catania, Chairman of City Council's Committee on Health, will summarize his committee's investigations and priorities.   Have the city's health agencies suffered financial shortfalls leading to program cuts?   How many DC residents are still without health insurance?   What diseases and/or chronic conditions (e.g., pneumonia, heart attack, stroke, drug or alcohol abuse) largely impact the local population? Will the Department of Health (DOH) receive federal stimulus monies to improve health facilities and services for city residents? What benefits have resulted from the 2008 RAND Study on the District's health? How reliable is the management of DC's Medicaid program? More on the event and contact info in the February 18 edition of themail.

Community Forum - Lead in DC Drinking Water - 2/23

On Monday, February 23rd, Councilmember Wells will host a Community Forum on the Latest Information Regarding Lead in DC Drinking Water.   The forum is being held at Tyler Elementary School located at 1001 G St SE from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.   Officials from DCWASA, DC Department of Health, DC Department of the Environment, Washington Aqueduct and DC Appleseed will be on hand to answer questions and provide information.  
For more information: Daniel Conner, (202) 724-8063 or visit CM Wells' Web site.

Missed the Council's stimulus hearing? No fear, check this out!

On February 11, 2009, the DC Council held a public hearing on the potential benefits of the federal stimulus on the District of Columbia. Dan Tangherlini, city administrator, testified.   This is his written statement.   Natwar Gandhi, the city's CFO, also testified at the hearing; his testimony is here.

The theme of both?   This is not a windfall and the city should exercise caution about accepting the money (especially if there are MOE -- maintenance of effort -- requirements) and should direct funding toward one-time and not on-going expenses.   DCFPI added to the discussion in Jenny Reed's testimony on the DCFPI site.   If you missed the hearing, go to OCT to watch it on demand.

FY 2010 baseline coming soon!

Word is that the FY 2010 baseline will be out tomorrow, February 18, and up on the OCFO's Web site by the end of the week.   So check out that site.

Tax season: Good news for low-income DC residents

The District of Columbia is progressive when it comes to the country's most successful anti-poverty initiative, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).   Under the leadership of Councilmember Jack Evans, Mayor Anthony Williams and the late advocate extraordinare Phyllis Campbell Newsome, the District's credit is equal to 40% of the federal credit!   This is the highest in the nation!!!   www.dceitc.org is DC EITC central, where you can find fliers, tax prep sites, etc.   Please, please, please -- share fliers and other information with clients, etc.   And thanks to Colleen Dailey at CAAB for correcting me!   If you don't know CAAB (Capital Area Asset Builders) check them out.

Check out the stimulus. . .

Check out the stimulus here.   You will find the text of the legislation and reports explaining the reasons for allocations and difference in Senate and House versions.

Advocacy Tip: Get a meeting kit

One of the most useful tips I can pass along is this:    Create a meeting kit.   This kit has everything you need for a meeting, event, training, etc.   I don't know about you, but I wasted a ton of time running around gathering stuff every time I did a training.   Then the light bulb went on and I built a meeting kit.   These kits include:

• A plastic container with a handle and that closes securely
• Pencils and sharpener (a little cheap one is fine)
• Ink pens
• Sharpies
• Flip chart markers
• A big ol' marker (for signs, etc.)
• Stapler and staples
• Rubber bands
• Paper clips
• Binder clips
• Sticky notes
• Tape and tape dispenser
• Masking tape
• White Out
• Stain remover pen (like the Tide pen)
• Lint roller
• Pad
• Business cards for key staff
• Highlighters
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Box cutter

Finally, be sure to keep a list of items you keep in the kit in the kit so you can check it before you leave the office, making sure you have all the items.

Rates to increase for some mental health services for kids

The Department of Health Care Finance has issued emergency and proposed rules regarding changes to reimbursement rates for Mental Health Rehabilitative Services (MHRS).   According to the notice, "The purpose of these proposed rules is to set forth the appropriate billing code for the MHRS services and increases in reimbursement rates for certain MHRS services: medication/somatic treatment, counseling, community-based intervention (CBI) and assertive community treatment (ACT)."  A notice of emergency and proposed rulemaking was published in the DC Register on October 17, 2008 (55 DCR 010983).   Comments were received and currently under review by DMH. This rulemaking amends the previously published rules by revising the procedure codes for diagnostic/assessment service and community support service.   Issuance of these rules on an emergency basis is necessary to increase the number of qualified providers participating in the MHRS program, especially qualified providers of services to children, youth and their families.   Emergency action is necessary for the immediate preservation of the health, welfare and safety of children, youth and adults with mental illness in need of mental health services."   Comments are due by March 13.

DCPS FOIA changes

The Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) on February 13 published emergency rules re: FOIA compliance with other government agencies.   According to the notice, "The emergency rule will remain in effect for up to one hundred twenty (120) days, unless earlier superseded by a notice of final rulemaking.   The proposed rule will be submitted to the Council for a forty-five (45) day period of review.   The Chancellor also hereby gives notice of the intent to adopt this rule, in final, in not less than thirty (30) days from the publication of this notice in the D.C. Register or upon approval of the rule by the Council whichever occurs later."

Rules proposed for DCPS residency verification change

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) has published published proposed rules in the DC Register to amend Chapter 50 of Title 5, of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR), entitled "Residency Verification for the District of Columbia Public Schools and Public Charter Schools."   In June 2008 the State Board of Education approved a revision to one portion of the regulations enabling the District of Columbia Public schools system and public charter schools to begin the residency verification process as early as May 1. See, 55 District of Columbia Register 6498 (June 13, 2008).   The rule was put into effect as an emergency rule which expired in October 2008.   The proposed regulations also enable schools to begin the residency verification process as early as April 1.   Comments are due by March 13, 2009.

Lots of CFSA data in motion to set timeline

If you've not yet read Defendants' Motion to Establish a Definitive Timeline for Termination of the Consent Decree, read it today! It contains a significant amount of data, data that is useful for advocacy in this oversight and budget season (and well, just generally useful).   Examples include:

• Investigations
• Caseloads
• Placements
• The cost of court involvement (payments to the plaintiffs and monitor)

Remember, the Committee on Human Services is holding their oversight hearing of CFSA on February 25 at 10:00 am in Room 412 of the Wilson Building.

DCFPI testimony from 2/11 stimulus hearing

The DC Fiscal Policy Institute has done it again:   They explain simply and plainly the way that policy makers and the public should think about important issues.   Analyst Jenny Reed testified before the Committee of the Whole and laid out a simple framework for how the city should consider using federal stimulus funding.   Go to the DCFPI site for the testimony.

More from the CFSA court case

Here are some additional materials from the February 6 LaShawn hearing:

• Opposition to the renewed contempt motion
• Addendum to the 6-mo plan
• The motion to terminate the consent decree

Must reads

One of the first things I did when I entered the advocacy world in DC was to read Themail and DC City Desk on a regular basis.   If you are not signed up for their lists, what are you waiting for?

• Themail:   Go to DC Watch to sign up
• DC City Desk:   Go to DC City Desk online.   You can sign up for emails or RSS.

Do you have any must reads?   Let me know; use the link on the right to email me your list.

IMPORTANT Event -- Child Sexual Abuse: What You Don't Know Will Hurt

National statistics indicate that one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused by the time they turn 18 years old.   Come learn what every responsible adult needs to know about the dangers children face right in our own backyards and what we can do to help   Experts in law enforcement, medicine and mental health will enlighten, inform, challenge and inspire participants to know more and do more to protect our community's greatest asset: children.

The event is being held on Wednesday, February 18 from 8:30 - 11:30 am.

Read more about this event sponsored by Leadership Washington.

Thinking Outside the Box Conference for foster/adoptive parents and others

Thinking Outside the Box, the 4th Annual Conference of the DC Metropolitan Foster and Adoptive Parent Association, is being held on Saturday, March 7 from 8:00 am - 4:30 pm at the Thurgood Marshall Center, 1816 12th St, NW.   The event features Judge Karen Howze, Magistrate Judge, DC Superior Court and a number of workshops.   More information in the invitation.

Council communications

Are you signed up for CM eletters, press releases, etc.?   If not, you should be!

• Gray's Notes:   email dmccoy AT dcouncil DOT us
• Jack's Weekly Newsletter:   email ddeschaine AT dccouncil DOT us
• At-large Update (from Phil Mendelson):   Go to CM's Web site to sign up for the newletter
• Brown Bulletin (Kwame Brown):   Click the button
• Mary's eNewsletter:   Go to the CM Cheh Web site
• Focus on 4:   Sign up here
• The Thomas Connection:   Sign up here
• Tommy Wells' newsletter:   Sign up here
• Community Notes from Councilmember Alexander:   Email aadesioye AT dccouncil DOT us

The Yellow Book

The Yellow Book is the city auditor's management letter.   DMH, CFSA and DCPS are the major Medicaid offenders.   To read about this and more, go to the IG's Web site.

Hint to advocates:   Think about the effect of the Medicaid-related anti-deficiency on the FY 2009 budget and agency operations.

Big CFSA news

Mayor Fenty this morning announced two biggies re: CFSA.   First, the appointment of Roque Gerald as acting director of CFSA.   Second, improvements in CFSA operations in the year after the Jacks tragedy.

Dishing about CFSA

According to the City Desk, federal court judge Hogan set a March 23 hearing on the contempt motion and other pleadings related to the LaShawn class action law suit.   The blog also reported that Mayor Fenty will announce the permanent director of CFSA within a week.

CFSA is the subject of several upcoming City Council hearings. Two are on February 11:   one about amending ASFA and the other about how CFSA has improved since the Jacks tragedy.   [See the calendar at the end of the blog.]   CFSA's oversight hearing is scheduled for February 25 and the budget hearing will be held on April 3.   [See postings about the budget and oversight hearings for details.]

Fenty's anti-crime legislation

Here is the proposed omnibus anti-crime legislation introduced by Mayor Fenty February 6, 2009.

Analysis to follow.

Committee on Human Services delays CFSA contracts

The Committee on Human Services is holding a public roundtable to review 19 contracts CFSA wants to let with providers.   "Nineteen Proposed Child and Family Services Agency Contracts for Family-Based Foster Care Services" is being held on Friday, February 13 at Noon in Room 120 of the Wilson Building.   Details about the hearing, including testifying, are online.   By introducing approval resolutions (one for each of the 19 contracts), the committee is delaying approval and execution of the contracts.

School closure/consolidation proposal

According to the notice in the DC Register, the Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) announces a proposed action to close and/or consolidate school programs and buildings.    The proposed action involves (1) closing one elementary school, Draper Elementary, which has fewer than 90 students, and consolidating the Draper program with Ferebee-Hope Elementary School; (2) relocating Webb/Wheatley Elementary School from the current Webb Elementary School building to the modernized Wheatley Elementary School building , and maintaining the Webb building in DCPS inventory pending assessment of needs for DCPS administrative or special programs space; and (3) relocating the Birney Elementary School program and the Savoy Elementary School program from the current Birney building to the modernized Savoy building, consolidating both programs in the Savoy building, and maintaining the Birney building in DCPS inventory pending assessment of needs for DCPS administrative or special programs space.   These proposed actions are intended to reduce inefficiencies in managing the administration, staffing and facilities of the affected schools and programs, and to accommodate the Webb/Wheatley and Birney/Savoy programs in improved, updated facilities that are superior to the current buildings those programs occupy.

The primary criteria for DCPS’s assessment of whether to close Draper Elementary School are the same primary criteria used to identify schools for closing in December of 2007, namely (1) an enrollment decline greater than the median change for DCPS elementary schools and (2) total enrollment less than the median for DCPS elementary schools. See the Mayor's Education Reform Center. Supporting criteria, findings, and recommendations for all of the proposed actions are explained in the proposed rules.

Special community meetings on each of these proposed actions will be held prior to the taking of any final action on these proposals.

Student discipline proposed rules -- comments needed

The State Superintendent of Education is proposing new rules for student discipline.   The proposed regulations provide state level standards for consistent school disciplinary policy in District of Columbia Public Schools system and public charter schools.   The proposed regulations establish clear expectations, balancing individual rights and responsibilities with the rights and responsibilities of the school community.   Local education agencies have the discretion to refine and implement a disciplinary regulatory process best suited to the needs of their school community in compliance with these regulations.   The regulations recognize that effective school discipline involves a broad range of strategies and interventions to maximize learning time and minimize classroom disruption or removal from classrooms due to misbehavior.

Public comments are due by ~March 6, 2009.

Public comment sought on proposed new fee for health providers

These proposed regulations seek to add a new fee for criminal background checks for all the health professions covered under Title 3 of the District of Columbia Official Code.   Title 3 was newly established pursuant to the Licensed Health Professional Criminal Background Check Amendment Act of 2006.

Two questioins:   1)   How does the proposed fee compare with the fees charged by MPD and the FBI for running the check? and 2) How does the proposed fee compare with the fees others (volunteers, child care providers, etc.) have to pay?

The deadline for comments is ~March 6, 2009.

Testify on unemployment issues at 2/11 public roundtable

The Committee on Housing and Workforce Development (Barry, chair) is holding a public roundtable on unemployment issues in the District of Columbia.   The committee is interested in hearing from residents, employers and advocates.   Details about the hearing and registering to testify are in the notice.

Fenty's anti-crime bill - to improve safety for residents

On February 6, Mayor Fenty reintroduced his plans to improve public safety in the District of Columbia.   According to the press release, this legislation is geared to "strengthening measures to limit gang activity, enforcing compliance among gun offenders, and cracking down on illegal gun possession."

An analysis will be forthcoming.

Legislation database updated

Child- and youth-related legislative database updated.

Reasons good for expanding age of blood donors

Ward 5 Councilmember Tommy Thomas' notice of a February 6 press conference on the introduction of an under 18 blood donation bill includes some interesting and useful information on the need for the bill and the issue of blood donation.   Here is the press release.

Contact info for Council's Budget Office

The Budget Office in the Council of the District of Columbia is an amazing and useful resource to advocates.   Check out the staff in the Budget Office.

Resources to help you get ready to testify at DC stimulus roundtable, 2/11/09

Rather than hearing a litany of wished, Council staffers report what will be most useful to hear at the February 11 City Council roundtable on the effect of the federal stimulus package are things like:

• Specific ways to use the Federal funds to meet demonstrated unmet needs
• How the city can best be held accountable for use of the funds, including putting in place specific and measurable output and outcome measures

There are some terrific resources out there to help folks prepare to testify at the roundtable (or submit testimony):

• The Coalition on Human Needs has done some good work comparing the House and Senate versions of the stimulus bills
• The Annie E. Casey KIDS COUNT Data Center presents basic data with the options to customize the DC data
• The GAO has prepared Medicaid provision change projections

Child- and youth-related FY 2010 budget hearings

Details about child- and youth-related hearings on the mayor's proposed FY 2010 budget are here.

Complete FY 2010 budget hearing sked

The complete FY 2010 Council budget hearing schedule is here.

Detailed performance oversight hearing sked

Here is the complete schedule from the Council's budget office.

Oversight hearings schedule for kids

The Council's Budget Office has finalized the FYs 2008 and 2009 oversight hearing schedule.   The season kicks off with the Council briefing on the city's audit, the CAFR, on Friday, February 6 at 10:00 am in the Council Chamber (Room 500) in the Wilson Building.   Hearings start February 18.

Details on the stimulus plan public roundtable

Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray announces a public oversight roundtable to consider priorities for the use of funds that may soon become available to the District of Columbia government from the several American Recovery and Reinvestment legislative proposals, also known as the Economic Stimulus Plan (Stimulus Plan).   The public oversight roundtable will be held on Wednesday, at 10:00 a.m., February 11, 2009 in Room 500 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

The roundtable is intended to learn more about the promise and limitation of the Stimulas Plan, obtain the Fenty Administration’s views on the use of these potential funds, and to provide the public with an opportunity to both learn what is in the Stimulus Plan and to provide comment on the priorities and specific recommendations for use of the funds.   The House of Representatives has approved HR-1 and sent it to the Senate for consideration and several Senate bills have been introduced with the same aim. These proposals have many similarities but differ in terms of programs affected, certain requirements, and amounts of funding. Local leaders and experts have been invited to testify and senior District of Columbia officials have been asked to present their priorities for funding within the context of the legislative proposals and the District of Columbia’s financial, budgetary, and employment conditions.

The complete notice.

Let's talk stimulus on February 11

The City Council will hold a public roundtable on the stimulus on February 11 at 10:00 am in the Council Chambers (5th floor).   David Nakamura and Nikita Stewart report on the Council's thoughts online in the D.C. Wire.   As is the case in states and jurisdictions across the country, the stimulus is important to maintaining essential programs.

CM Michael Brown appoints leg director

Recently elected At-large CM Michael Brown has appointed Kilin Boardman-Schroyer as his Legislative Director.   Kilin comes from the nonprofit world and as far as I'm concerned is a good guy, interested in learning about issues and eager to do good.   You can reach Kilin by calling 724-8105 or emailing kboardmanschroyer@dccouncil.us.   Or, stop by in Suite 406 in the Wilson Building.

City audit released

The CFO today released the FY 2008 CAFR (Comprehensive Annual Financial Report), the city's annual audit.   Unlike in years past, the CFO did not have a press conference; rather, he presented the audit to the mayor and briefed some, if not all, members of the City Council.   As of right now, the CAFR is not online but will be soon.   Copies should be available for the public on February 3 -- but note, this not for everyone.   Lots of technical stuff; if you want a summary, wait for the citizen's version prepared by OCFO.

The Council briefing on the CAFR is being held on Friday, February 6 at 10:00 am in the Council Chambers (5th floor of the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW).

Updates

The Child- and Youth-related Legislative Database has been updated.   Also updated is the advocacy calendar at the end of the blog.

Final regs issued on public library access

DC Public Library has issued final regulations on the day-to-day operations of libraries. The final regs are online.   A few of these regulations govern the behavior of children and youth -- namely unaccompanied kids under age 8 and school-age children who are not in school during school hours.