Council Youth Affairs

This bill (B 26-0399, SOUL Amendment Act of 2025) creates a new legal pathway for District of Columbia youth aged 16+ transitioning from foster care to adulthood. It allows youth to form a "Support Family" legal relationship with caring adults (caregivers/supporters) while maintaining existing family ties, without terminating birth parent rights. To establish this, youth must request it through court (via motion, affidavit, or legal counsel), and the court must approve it unless it’s deemed not in their best interest. The law outlines specific procedures for filing motions, creating support family agreements, and court oversight, with requirements for youth consent and court documentation. This directly affects foster youth in DC’s child welfare system aged 16+ who are in the care of the Agency.

This bill amends Washington, D.C.'s child neglect definitions to clarify that homelessness or lack of stable housing cannot be used as sole evidence of neglect, and that a parent's eligibility for public benefits cannot be used as sole evidence of parental failure unrelated to financial need. It updates the statutory definition of "neglected child" in Title 16 to explicitly exclude financial hardship as the sole factor for neglect determinations. The bill also specifies that child welfare agencies (the Child and Family Services Agency) must consider financial circumstances when assessing neglect, requiring reasonable efforts to address financial barriers. These changes directly affect parents, guardians, and child welfare cases in D.C., ensuring neglect determinations focus on specific child safety risks rather than socioeconomic status alone.

This bill amends two existing District of Columbia laws to provide increased financial support for grandparent and close relative caregivers. It extends subsidy payments for these caregivers until the child reaches age 21 (previously ending at age 18) and establishes a minimum subsidy amount of $27.92 in fiscal year 2027, with annual inflation adjustments. The changes directly affect caregivers raising children in the District, ensuring continued financial assistance through the child's early adulthood. The bill modifies specific provisions of the Grandparent Caregivers Pilot Programs Establishment Act (2005) and the Close Relative Caregiver Subsidy Pilot Program Act (2019).

This bill (B 26-0407, "Strengthening Capacity and Transparency at DYRS Amendment Act of 2025") requires the District of Columbia's Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) to publicly report detailed population data about youth at the Youth Services Center and New Beginnings Youth Development Center. Key provisions include publishing daily counts by race/age/status, average stay lengths, admission patterns, confinement incidents, and recidivism metrics (measuring reoffending rates within three years of release). It also mandates the Mayor to submit a one-year plan within 120 days to reduce the Youth Services Center population to a maximum of 90 youth and prevent future overcrowding. The bill directly affects DYRS operations, youth in custody, and the public through increased transparency about facility conditions and outcomes.

This bill requires the District of Columbia's Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) to provide comprehensive pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care to pregnant youth in its facilities. It mandates pregnancy testing upon admission, confidential healthcare within three weeks of birth (with follow-up care), counseling on family planning and mental health, and free medical supplies like breast pumps and postpartum dietary support. The law also requires DYRS to develop written policies within 60 days of enactment to implement these standards. The bill directly affects pregnant youth in DYRS custody, ensuring they receive timely, culturally responsive healthcare without cost.