Children's Law Center
@childrenslawcenter.org
Together with DC children & families, Children’s Law Center uses the law to solve children’s urgent problems today, improve the systems that will affect their lives tomorrow and strengthen our community so that change endures.
childrenslawcenter.org
childrenslawcenter.org
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
The Washington Post: No-show buses, long waits: Will GPS finally help D.C.’s disabled students? - Children’s Law Center
Johnathan Edwards of The Washington Post continues coverage on the issues surrounding the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, the agency
ow.ly
January 6, 2026 at 4:21 PM
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.
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.
December 24, 2025 at 5:01 PM
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.
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.
@daniellerobinette.bsky.social spoke as an expert witness before the DC Council, underscoring how systemic barriers deny meaningful access to education.
December 18, 2025 at 5:30 PM
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.
@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.
December 10, 2025 at 8:07 PM
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
December 4, 2025 at 5:57 PM
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.
NEW: The Court has ruled that the National Guard deployment to DC is illegal and granted a preliminary injunction.
As we made clear from the beginning: the US military should not be policing American citizens on American soil.
This is a victory for DC, Home Rule, and American democracy.
As we made clear from the beginning: the US military should not be policing American citizens on American soil.
This is a victory for DC, Home Rule, and American democracy.
November 22, 2025 at 2:17 PM
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
https://ow.ly/FEly50XtOT5
The District Fails to Provide Transportation for Students with Disabilities
DC's public behavioral health system, which encompasses mental health and substance use treatment, needs a new path forward. Read the report to learn more.
ow.ly
November 18, 2025 at 10:08 PM
👏🏿👏🏻👏🏽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
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.
November 12, 2025 at 7:39 PM
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!
October 23, 2025 at 9:28 PM
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!
October 16, 2025 at 6:29 PM
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)
September 19, 2025 at 3:53 PM
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.
BREAKING: WLC and allies just filed an amicus brief supporting D.C.’s lawsuit to stop the National Guard from policing D.C. neighborhoods. D.C. deserves self-governance and safety, not militarization.
Read more: hubs.la/Q03Jy0xj0
Support us: hubs.la/Q03Jx-Gs0
#CivilRights #WLC #TogetherForJustice
Read more: hubs.la/Q03Jy0xj0
Support us: hubs.la/Q03Jx-Gs0
#CivilRights #WLC #TogetherForJustice
September 16, 2025 at 8:18 PM
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.
DC students go back to school on Monday! Sign up to adopt a school and show up on Monday morning to make some noise and support our kids!
forms.office.com/pages/respon...
forms.office.com/pages/respon...
Microsoft Forms
forms.office.com
August 22, 2025 at 4:47 PM
DC students go back to school on Monday! Sign up to adopt a school and show up on Monday morning to make some noise and support our kids!
forms.office.com/pages/respon...
forms.office.com/pages/respon...
We join all who are voicing concerns about President Trump's unwarranted federal intervention in the District. Read our full statement here: childrenslawcenter.org/news/stateme...
August 12, 2025 at 7:07 PM
We join all who are voicing concerns about President Trump's unwarranted federal intervention in the District. Read our full statement here: childrenslawcenter.org/news/stateme...
We applaud the @councilofdc.bsky.social for investing in resources like long-term vouchers to prevent family homelessness instead of sacrificing privacy standards in family shelters to cut costs. Let’s keep working toward safe and stable housing for all DC children and families!
Thanks to @cmfrumin.bsky.social and @chmnmendelson.bsky.social for their leadership in ensuring DC families will NOT return to congregate shelter settings, which have historically posed serious threats to children’s health, well‑being and engagement in school. streetsensemedia.org/article/d-c-...
August 5, 2025 at 7:41 PM
We applaud the @councilofdc.bsky.social for investing in resources like long-term vouchers to prevent family homelessness instead of sacrificing privacy standards in family shelters to cut costs. Let’s keep working toward safe and stable housing for all DC children and families!
This year’s DC budget was incredibly difficult with cuts to programs and services that are so critical for DC children and families. While it can be hard to celebrate “wins” in this moment, we appreciate the hard work that the DC Council and staff put into improving the budget where possible. 🧵
July 31, 2025 at 3:55 PM
This year’s DC budget was incredibly difficult with cuts to programs and services that are so critical for DC children and families. While it can be hard to celebrate “wins” in this moment, we appreciate the hard work that the DC Council and staff put into improving the budget where possible. 🧵
Tomorrow the @councilofdc.bsky.social will vote on the DC budget, but some concerning gaps remain -- including $$$ for our city's only mental health crisis team for children. Today's story by Lauren Lumpkin in the @washingtonpost.com shares more.🧵
D.C.’s sole mental health crisis team for kids under threat in new budget
ChAMPS (Child and Adolescent Mobile Psychiatric Service) works with about 400 young people in crisis, typically those who are having suicidal or homicidal thoughts.
wapo.st
July 27, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Tomorrow the @councilofdc.bsky.social will vote on the DC budget, but some concerning gaps remain -- including $$$ for our city's only mental health crisis team for children. Today's story by Lauren Lumpkin in the @washingtonpost.com shares more.🧵
We are excited to announce our new ‘Families Together’ program which allows us to reach DC children and families sooner —forming new partnerships with community-based organizations and government agencies, all with the goal of strengthening families impacted by poverty.
July 24, 2025 at 5:36 PM
We are excited to announce our new ‘Families Together’ program which allows us to reach DC children and families sooner —forming new partnerships with community-based organizations and government agencies, all with the goal of strengthening families impacted by poverty.
An effective crisis response system includes someone to call, someone to respond, and a safe place to go. For youth in DC, ChAMPS provides that response. If funding is not restored to $1.37M, our city’s only crisis response team for children will cease to exist. @cmbrookepinto.bsky.social
July 23, 2025 at 5:12 PM
An effective crisis response system includes someone to call, someone to respond, and a safe place to go. For youth in DC, ChAMPS provides that response. If funding is not restored to $1.37M, our city’s only crisis response team for children will cease to exist. @cmbrookepinto.bsky.social
Our Equal Justice Works Fellow, Sierra Campbell, was hooked on the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine growing up—drawn in by the adventures, mysteries, and unexpected twists. “I still love Halloween and anything spooky,” she shares. #CLCFavBooks ✨📚👻
July 17, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Our Equal Justice Works Fellow, Sierra Campbell, was hooked on the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine growing up—drawn in by the adventures, mysteries, and unexpected twists. “I still love Halloween and anything spooky,” she shares. #CLCFavBooks ✨📚👻
TY @chmnmendelson.bsky.social and the @councilofdc.bsky.social for working to restore $$$ to the #AccessToJustice Initiative in the FY26 budget🙌
These funds provide a vital safety net for DC families—ensuring access to legal help when facing issues with housing, family stability, and more.
These funds provide a vital safety net for DC families—ensuring access to legal help when facing issues with housing, family stability, and more.
July 16, 2025 at 2:14 PM
TY @chmnmendelson.bsky.social and the @councilofdc.bsky.social for working to restore $$$ to the #AccessToJustice Initiative in the FY26 budget🙌
These funds provide a vital safety net for DC families—ensuring access to legal help when facing issues with housing, family stability, and more.
These funds provide a vital safety net for DC families—ensuring access to legal help when facing issues with housing, family stability, and more.
Thank you @cmfrumin.bsky.social and @chmnmendelson.bsky.social for your leadership on these improvements🌟We hope the @councilofdc.bsky.social will build on these efforts in the final budget to ensure more DC families can access stable housing and safe homeless services.
Some highlights:
✅Increased ERAP and vouchers for families
✅Funding to expand non-congregate family shelter
✅Guardrails and restrictions on use of shared sleeping spaces for families (Subtitle K)
Thank you also to @cmfrumin.bsky.social for efforts here
✅Increased ERAP and vouchers for families
✅Funding to expand non-congregate family shelter
✅Guardrails and restrictions on use of shared sleeping spaces for families (Subtitle K)
Thank you also to @cmfrumin.bsky.social for efforts here
July 16, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Thank you @cmfrumin.bsky.social and @chmnmendelson.bsky.social for your leadership on these improvements🌟We hope the @councilofdc.bsky.social will build on these efforts in the final budget to ensure more DC families can access stable housing and safe homeless services.
The mayor’s FY26 budget is filled with harmful cuts that affect DC’s lowest-income residents and would reverse long-standing protections for families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Read the full story below:
New: In a reversal of long-held commitments, Bowser wants to change the law and once again place homeless families in large, communal shelters.
Advocates see this as a troubling reversal of progress the city made after closing DC General and opening non-congregate shelters:
wamu.org/story/25/07/...
Advocates see this as a troubling reversal of progress the city made after closing DC General and opening non-congregate shelters:
wamu.org/story/25/07/...
July 9, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The mayor’s FY26 budget is filled with harmful cuts that affect DC’s lowest-income residents and would reverse long-standing protections for families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Read the full story below:
Senior Policy Attorney Leah Castelaz joined local + natl partners at the Doula Learning and Action Collaborative in Las Vegas. Together, they developed actionable strategies that support family stability from day one. Thank you to the Institute for Medicaid Innovation for convening the group!
July 8, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Senior Policy Attorney Leah Castelaz joined local + natl partners at the Doula Learning and Action Collaborative in Las Vegas. Together, they developed actionable strategies that support family stability from day one. Thank you to the Institute for Medicaid Innovation for convening the group!
A few months ago, @cmchenderson.bsky.social & @cmbrookepinto.bsky.social held a robust hearing on humane and trauma-informed crisis response in the District. Now, in the final weeks of FY26 budget deliberations, we must ensure adequate funding for those badly needed services.
July 7, 2025 at 9:31 PM
A few months ago, @cmchenderson.bsky.social & @cmbrookepinto.bsky.social held a robust hearing on humane and trauma-informed crisis response in the District. Now, in the final weeks of FY26 budget deliberations, we must ensure adequate funding for those badly needed services.