News

The Trust Seeks Grant Reviewers for the Service Coalition Funding Competition

The Trust is seeking individuals to review proposals for the FY 2014 DC YouthLink Service Coalition Funding Competition. This is an excellent opportunity to network with colleagues in the fields of youth development and juvenile justice, to learn more about the funding process, to develop proposal-writing skills, to learn about exciting initiatives happening in the juvenile justice field, and to contribute your knowledge and experience in helping the Trust select high-quality youth programs throughout the District of Columbia.

Advocates, Providers, and Youth Gave Moving Testimonies at the CFSA Budget Hearing

Emotions ran high at the April 24th, 2013 Child and Family Services Agency Budget Hearing as youth told stories of their experience in the Districts Foster Care program. DCAYA policy analyst Anne Abbott testified on behalf of her research on disconnected youth. Abbott's primary concern is with youth aged 18-24 who are no longer supported by the system, yet are high-risk for becoming disconnected. Lack of funding leaves this population of youth with little resources to grow and become productive adults.

Challenge Councilmembers to #InvestInYouth

We’re inviting you to join DCAYA on May 1^st for our Call to Action Campaign. Our goal is to have 5,000 people reach out via phone calls, emails, facebook, or twitter #InvestInYouth to each councilmember to tell our representatives we want to see smart investments in DC Youth.

DCAYA Members Testify to Raise CYITC Funding

During the Children and Youth Investment Trust Corps Budget Hearing on April 17th 2013, DC Alliance of Youth Advocates Executive Director Maggie Riden along with numerous community and advocacy members, testified for additional funding to the CYITC Budget. By boosting funding, the CYITC could target three main areas of their mission: reach more youth in year-round programming, ensure youth development programs during the summer of 2014, and increase capacity for quality data collection.

OSSE Budget Hearing Sees Huge Turnout

On Monday April 22, 2013 the Office of the State Superintendent for Education, the DC State Board of Education and the Deputy Mayor for Education had their FY'14 budget hearing with Chairman of the Committee on Education David Catania.

Testimony of Anne Abbott, DCAYA Policy Analyst

Testimony of Soumya Bhat, DCFPI

DCAYA Staff and Members Testify at FY'14 DCPS Hearing

On April 17, 2013 DCAYA staff, members and allies testified on the Mayor's Proposed FY'14 budget for DCPS. Copies of testimony are available below:

Testimony of Maggie Riden, DCAYA Executive Director

Testimony of Anne Abbott, DCAYA Policy Analyst

Member Organization DCLY Testifies at the DYRS Budget Oversight Hearing

Executive Director, R. Daniel Okonkwo of DC Lawyers for Youth provided testimony at the Department of Youth Rehabilitative Services Budget Oversight Hearing on April 15th, 2013. Okonkwo explained to the council members that 90% of DC youth who become court involved live below the federal poverty line and 70% live in under resourced neighborhoods. DCLY takes a holistic approach to juvenile justice and advocates for preventative program funding before youth reach the "deep end" of the system.

Ward-specific Summer Strategy Sessions for CBOs

The DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corp recieved a great response thus far for our Ward-specific Summer Strategy Session on February 28. There are opportunities for community-based organizations that work in specific Wards to gather to partner, share resources and ideas, and get support around planning engaging programs for youth. If you haven’t already registered, please see the link below. As well, please see the dates and locations for all our other upcoming sessions. Some District agencies will also have representatives at the sessions.

The goals of the sessions are:

DCAYA Hosts 2013 Member Summit

On Thursday March 28th, 2013 the DC Alliance of Youth Advocates hosted our annual Member Summit. Over sixty youth-serving organizations attended the event at All Souls Church in Columbia Heights to get an advocacy update, discuss youth issues with Council members Grosso and Catania and to confirm the three new members of DCAYA Board of Directors Executive Committee.

DCAYA To Conduct Survey of Currently and Formerly Disconnected Youth

Starting in late March and running through April 23^rd, 2013 the DC Alliance of Youth Advocates will conduct a youth survey of young people ages 16-24 who are currently experiencing disconnection from education or the labor market and those who have experienced disconnection in the past.