On October 6, 2025, Ward 5’s D.C. Councilmember Zachary Parker proposed a package of 16-bills to increase youth well-being throughout the city. These bills generally cover record-keeping, intra-government communication, education reforms, economic reforms, youth justice reform, and parental & family support.

CARE Brookland is currently looking into 3 policies that impact our students lives:

Pay Our Youth a Fair Summer Wage Act
Work-Based Learning Act
Support, Opportunity, Unity, and Legal Relationships (SOUL) Act

Read our short summaries on these important bills and the rest of the bills in the C.A.R.E. proposal and consider attending the upcoming public hearings about the bills you are passionate about.

Youth Economic Reforms

Pay Our Youth a Fair Summer Wage Act:*

*CARE Brookland Note: Our students deserve to be paid a fair wage. This policy is a step in the right direction.

What? Raises 14-15 y/o wage to $10.00/hr. Raises minimum wage for 16+ y/o to District minimum wage ($17.95).
Why? To ensure our youth receive fair and equitable compensation for their contributions.
Questions: Has the economic impact of this raise on students and businesses been measured?

Youth Financial Literacy Pilot Act:

What? Establishes a pilot program that gives $50 weekly to students.

Program for 40 weeks per year. The pilot program will go for 3 years. OSSE will be in charge of criteria and administration. Solicits independent evaluation of the program.

Why? To raise attendance rates and study the impact of unconditional cash transfers.
Questions: The Rooted Schools Foundation is mentioned, who is that? Is there any other scaffolding given other than the money? The title mentions financial literacy, how does this help? Who will be a part of the independent team? How many schools?

Increasing Support for Grandparents and Close Relative Caregivers Act:

What? Increases minimum subsidy for Grandparent and Close Relative Caregiver Subsidy to $27.92 and increases eligibility window from 18y/o to 21y/o.

Current subsidy ranges between $15.79 and $27.92.

Why? Foster Parents receive much more, yet these critical kinship networks are not supported in nearly the same way. This is a step towards closing the gap.
Questions: Why can’t we increase the caregiver subsidy closer to that of the foster family subsidy?

Education Reforms

Work-Based Learning Act:*

*CARE Brookland Note: Councilmember Parker needs to specify many details of this bill. However, Career and Technical Education is crucial for any prepared student body.

What? Proposal to include work-based learning as a graduation requirement by 2035.

DME will set a definition of Work-Based Learning, including valid experiences qualifying for school credit. DME will propose financial incentives to businesses to host students.

Why? To scale and formalize current DME and OSSE Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
Questions: Will students get paid for their work? Will work opportunities be equitable across the city? What is the impact of the current CTE programs?

Educational Continuity for Students in the Care of D.C. Act:

What? Creates procedures that standardize the transfer of students between the juvenile justice system and other schools.
Why? To provide smooth transitions for students coming in and out of the justice system in the District.
Questions: What kind of supports (i.e. social emotional learning, check-ins) will be given to students other than a standardized transition process?

Familial Reform

Support, Opportunity, Unity, Legal Relationships (SOUL) Act:*

*CARE Brookland Note: This bill is a massive overhaul in the current foster system. CARE Brookland welcomes this shift towards student- and child-centered family systems.

What? Creates a “support family” for older foster youth. Support families are added to the list of adults who may perform caretaking duties.

Creates support families as a Permanency Plan, establishes family court proceedings with “support families,” instructs courts on when support families are appropriate.

Why? To support older children exiting the system, letting children receive support from more adults in their development.
Questions: Are there procedures if conflict arises between biological families and support families?

Youth Justice Reforms

Empowering Parents in CFSA Investigations Act:

What? Requires that parents are notified of their rights and legal resources when CFSA investigates their child.
Why? Research shows that parents who are aware are associated with more positive outcomes for their children and themselves.
Questions: What happens in cases where parents cannot be contacted? Can there still be an investigation?

Promoting Parental Engagement at DYRS Act:

What? Promotes continued contact between legal guardians and their children engaged in the justice system.

DYRS must keep records of any attempted contact and must make contact every 6 months to update caregivers on the child's rehabilitation status.

Why? Current ROAD Act of 2024 requires initial predispositional meeting, this creates opportunity for longer term contact, updates, and communication.
Questions: Language in the bill does not include any language that involves parental involvement past initial set up of individualized rehabilitation plan, yet proposal includes statement on parents providing recommendations based on their experience. Why?

Safe Pregnancy, Delivery, and Postpartum Care for Youth at DYRS Act:

What? Requires establishment of a formal policy, makes pregnancy tests available at DYRS facilities, and sets up confidential, appropriate care.

Care includes pre- & post (12 weeks)-partum care, counseling, free healthcare and personal care supplies, and necessary food.

Why? Some female youth do not have the option of taking a pregnancy test, leading to complications in the prescription of medication and care later down the road.
Questions: Are they making these tests compulsory?

Strengthening Capacity and Transparency of DYRS Act:

What? Define and track recidivism along with other YSC statistics, and direct the Mayor address YSC overcrowding.

Requires daily population, average length of stay, new admissions, monthly incident and assault data, and recidivism to be posted publicly on the DYRS’s website.

Why? To promote transparency and address the overcrowding at the YSC.
Questions: What is Section 104c(3)(C)? What happens to the plan once it is created, will there be a way to amend it? Why are we not addressing the systemic issues of police incarceration? Only stats on inmates, no stats on why they were arrested?

Intra-Government Communication Reforms

Streamlining Services for Children Act:

What? Establishes a District Office for Children within the CFSA, and an Interagency Council for Children to coordinate services.

District Office: Coordinate with families, advise the Mayor, promote children and familial well-being, submit an annual assessment report, and talk with the District Youth Council.
Interagency Council: Composed of 16 Agencies and 3-5 organizations that provide services for children. Its goals are to reduce truancy, coordinate poverty relief, maintain trauma informed practices across the government, coordinate with youth workforce development, ensure support for disabilities and justice, establish measurable targets, and coordinate effective engagement with youth.

Why? The current patchwork system of youth services is unclear, this District Office will make recommendations to help families and children. The Interagency counsel will ensure coordination of services.
Questions: Interagency Council or District Office should be consolidating programs, currently adding two more things to the pile of current organizations.

Improving School Outcomes Act:

What? Creates warning system school attendance procedures and reroutes the pursuit of non-educational neglect absentee cases through DHS instead of CFSA.

Parents receive truancy prevention guide from OSSE at the 5th unexcused absence. At the 10th, they receive a warning that they can be prosecuted for 15 unexcused absences. Calls for formal educational neglect report by beginning of SY 2027-28.

Why? To reduce truancy and consolidate proceedings.
Questions: Are there accountability measures created by re-routing certain cases through DHS? What if parents are unable to be reached?

Child Fatality Review Act:

What? Includes Committee responsible for Youth Affairs in a monthly committee on how to reduce preventable child deaths.

A committee already exists, a mix of public and private representatives, this Act includes the committee responsible for CFSA as a permanent member. According to the legislation, currently DHS is a member and they want to replace them?

Why? Given their direct involvement in youth welfare concerns, the Committee on Youth Affairs should be included.
Questions: Does the Child Fatality Review Committee want this as well?

Code and Record Modernization Reforms

Statutory Neglect Act:

What? Consolidates current neglect code, prohibits welfare status or homelessness as sole grounds for neglect.

Defines neglect, abused, abandoned.

Why? Current neglect code is fragmented. Bill needed to close loopholes and modernize code.
Questions: What was in Section 16-2301(52)(C)(24)? Parents seeking out medical treatment, but are still afflicted by addiction will have their child defined as neglected.

Youth Records Oversight and Transparency Act:

What? Gives the Council Committee and the Office of the Ombudsperson of Children access to juvenile records.

These were previously restricted to DYRS, CFSA, and the office of the AG.

Why? For the sake of Council oversight of DYRS, CFSA, OAG and the Office of the Ombudsperson.
Questions: What is the data used for? How much access will be given? What is the scope of legislative oversight?

Child Abuse and Investigation Multidisciplinary Team Certification Act:

What? Require that accredited Children’s Advocacy Centers are included in multidisciplinary teams that investigate child abuse.
Why? To strengthen the effect of multidisciplinary teams investigating child abuse.
Questions: How are these organizations compensated? Are there regulations for fair market rates? How is accreditation determined?

CARE Brookland presents just one way to look at these policies. Ultimately, it is up to our community to dictate if and how we want these policies to be enacted. If you want your voice to be heard, talk to Councilmember Parker and make sure he and his staff hear your concerns, your questions, your praise, and your passion.

What’s in the C.A.R.E. for Youth Policy Proposals?