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DCAYA produces positive policy outcomes for young people and youth-engaged organizations. DCAYA was established to provide a mechanism for youth service providers, young people, community members and parents to work together for better – and expanded – city-supported, locally-rooted youth services and supports. DCAYA’s civic efforts have included testifying at city council hearings, building partnerships with key policymakers and city leaders, and campaigning to improve government regulations. Building partnerships with key stakeholders and city leaders is critical to DCAYA’s effectiveness. Our members have many opportunities to meet with DC City Council members, mayoral staff, agency directors, key researchers, civic leaders, executives and more. DCAYA communicates with policymakers about issues that concern our members and builds partnerships with key stakeholders to create relevant and effective solutions. Check out DCAYA's Policy Agenda here
and our recent policy and advocacy activities below: Youth EmploymentTestimony at Hearings Members of the Youth Employment Committee testified at the April 22, 2008 Department of Employment Services Budget Hearing: Testimony of Adam Tenner of MetroTeenAIDS Past testimony: Testimony of Jee Park of the Urban Alliance Foundation (February 8, 2008) Special Saturday Hearing on Youth Employment with YARGDCAYA and YARG, with the help of Councilmember Carol Schwartz, arranged a special weekend hearing on youth employment that would allow youth to attend and testify in person before the Committee on Workforce Development and Government Operations. On Saturday, May 5, 2007, young people, members of the youth provider community, members of the labor community all came out to the hearing. Youth testified before the committee, making a strong case for the importance of summer and year-round youth employment. Councilmember Schwartz then committed to recommending $6 million of the District's budget be reprogrammed to the Department of Employment Services for fiscal year 2008, asking that $3 million go towards additional funding for year-round youth employment slots and that the remaining $3 million be directed to the summer youth employment program. DCAYA expressed support for this initiative in a letter to the mayor. Watch a video of the hearing here. Related documents: Hearing
announcement Other Recent Activities of the Youth Employment CommitteeDCAYA has also met with the staffs of Councilmembers Carol Schwartz and Kwame Brown to apprise them of the current state of need in terms of youth employment. Full minutes of the Youth Employment Committee meetings can be found here. Youth HomelessnessTestimony at HearingsCoordinated testimony of youth from member organization Sasha Bruce Youthwork/Independent Living Program at Department of Human Services Hearing, April 17, 2008: Testimony of Anthony Ross Past Testimony: Testimony of Darby Hickey of Different Avenues (February 20, 2008) Call-In DayDCAYA's Youth Homelessness Committee led a call-in day to city councilmembers and the mayor asking for an increase of $2.1 million for services to homeless youth in the District in fiscal year 2007. The Committee called on DCAYA's full membership to call in. In addition, DCAYA issued a sign-on letter to Mayor Fenty requesting additional funding for 2007. Sign-on
letter to Mayor Fenty Other Recent Activities of the Youth Homelessness Committee The committee met with Councilmember Tommy Wells and the chair of the DC City Council, Vincent Gray. The committee conducted a survey of major youth homelessness service
providers in the District, finding that there were only three; it
also authored fact
sheet on youth homelessness reflecting the current scope of
the issue. Full minutes of the Youth Homelessness Committee meetings can be found here. Out-of-School TimeDCPS Extended Learning Time Launch ForumAsk a question or discuss the DCPS extended learning time launch here on our online forum. (Posting requires registration). Meeting on DCPS Extended Learning DayOn Thursday, May 8th, DCAYA hosted a conversation/working meeting of more than 80 members and allies about DCPS’ new initiative to extend the school day. This extended school day model, planned to begin in Fall 2008, will seek to formalize and coordinate out-of-school-time programs between the hours of approximately 3:30-6:30pm. DCPS’ goal is to provide all youth in DCPS with out-of-school-time programming – beginning in Fall 2008. Representatives from 40 community organizations and foundations received an update on the initiative, and asked questions of Dr. Ximena Hartsock the DCPS Deputy Chief for Differentiated Instruction.
Testimony at HearingsMembers of the Out-of-School-Time Committee and youth from member organizations testified at the Public Oversight Roundtable of the Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation on July 8, 2008: Testimony of Veronica Nolan of Urban Alliance Past testimony: Testimony of Curtis Watkins of LifeSTARTS (April 10, 2008) Other Recent Activities of the Out-of-School Time CommitteeThe Committee met with City staffers charged with managing the mayor's new Interagency Council and Services Integration Commission. Full minutes of the Out-of-School Time Committee meetings can be found here. Other Accomplishments Councilmember Marion Barry's Public Oversight Roundtable on Poverty Issues: Developing a Public/Private Strategy Aimed at Eliminating Poverty Among District Residents, January 16, 2008 Testimony
of Selena Gonzales Jones Testified at Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services
(DYRS) Oversight Hearing on December 5, 2007. Testimony follows: Testified at DC Supplemental Appropriations Hearing, November 13th,
2007. Testified at Public Oversight Roundtable on Parental Responsibility
and Public Safety, Committee on Human Services, July 2, 2007.
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