COMMITTEE ON YOUTH AFFAIRS
Chair, Councilmember Zachary Parker
NEW – Check out the C.A.R.E. for Youth Plan!
Oversight of DC Agencies:
Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) – rehabilitating justive-involved youth
Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) – protecting children and strengthening families
Office of the Attorney General (OAG) – advancing juvenile justice and public safety while supporting youth development
The Committee on Youth Affairs is focused on 1) preventing DC youth from becoming system-involved, then on 2) disrupting cycles of harm, and finally on 3) ensuring there are resources to help every child prosper when they exit youth-justice or child-welfare systems.
Join us in standing up for DC youth:
We need you to link arms with us, whether you’re just interested in learning more, a supporter of our committee’s efforts, or a champion of youth-centered issues in the District.
Share your ideas to foster wellbeing for District youth at ward5.us/DCyouth
EXCELLING IN SCHOOL
- Preventing Truancy – get to school on time, every day. Chronic truancy is when a student has 10 or more unexcused absences. Learn more at ward5.us/truancy
- Cell Phone Ban – DC passed legislation banning cell phones in classrooms to help students stay focused during the school day. Learn more at ward5.us/cellphones
- Ombudsman’s Office – get assistance with in-school concerns educationombudsman.dc.gov
- Kids-Ride-Free Metro Cards – help your child get to school. ward5.us/kidsridefree
THRIVING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL
- Parks and Recreation Activities – register for programs, camps, and sports. dprprograms.com
- Out-of-School-Time Activities – DC’s one-stop-shop for out-of-school-time programs. most.dc.gov
- Youth Employment Opportunities – explore workforce development programs for District youth ages 14-24. ward5.us/youthemployment
- Youth Mental Health Support –
- Department of Behavioral Health: ward5.us/mentalhealth, 1-888-793-4357
- ChAMPS (Child and Adolescent Mobile Psychiatric Service): an emergency response service for children, teens, and adolescent adults experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis. Councilmember Parker fought to retain funding for ChAMPS in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget process. 202-481-1440
- Youth Curfew Announcements – ward5.us/youthcurfew
GETTING BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK
- Housing and Youth Drop-in Centers – The Council worked to fund these critical housing and social services for youth in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget process.
- DC Doors – 900 Rhode Island Ave NE, 202-248-2098
- Sasha Bruce Network – 4 DC locations, 202-675-9340
- Latin American Youth Center – 1419 Columbia Rd NW, 202-319-2225
- SMYAL Drop-in Center for LGBTQ+ Youth Ages 13-22 – 410 7th St SE, 202-546-5940
- OAG Youth Programming – restorative justice and youth mentorship opportunities. ward5.us/oagyouth
- Social Services for Strong Families – healthy families collaboratives across DC. ward5.us/families
- Housing and Youth Drop-in Centers – The Council worked to fund these critical housing and social services for youth in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget process.
Upcoming hearings
Confirmation hearing: PR26-0358 – Director of the Child and Family Services Agency Tanya Torres Trice Confirmation Resolution of 2025
December 11, 2025 @ 10:30 a.m. – Sign up to testify or submit written testimony here.
All hearings livestreamed to Councilmember Parker’s YouTube Channel here (or click the image below).
committee info
Note: At the end of 2024, Councilmember Parker chaired the Subcommittee on Libraries and Youth Affairs. To see an archive of that committee’s work, please click here.
You can view the Committee page for the Committee on Youth Affairs on the Council’s website here.
Agencies Under This Committee:
- Child and Family Services Agency
- Citizen Review Panel on Child Abuse and Neglect
- Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services
- Juvenile Abscondence Review Committee
- Office and Commission on African Affairs
- Office and Commission on African American Affairs
- Office of the Attorney General (jointly, only for oversight purposes, with the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety)
- Office of the Ombudsperson for Children
- Committee Director: Thomas Franco
- tfranco@dccouncil.gov
- 202-727-9277
- Legislative Counsel: Joe Dweck
- jdweck@dccouncil.gov
- 202-654-6179
- Legislative Assistant: Allison Bailey
- abailey@dccouncil.gov
- 202-615-8354
committee news
- REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (CLOSES DECEMBER 10, 2025) – DYRS Workforce Development Program
- DC Director of Youth Detention Under Fire for Overcrowding Problem (Washington Post)
- DC Council Hearing Reveals DYRS Has No Proof of Following Certain Laws & Protocols (ABC 7)
- DC Council Approves Extending a Stricter Youth Curfew While Urging Long-Term Solutions (WUSA 9)
- Under Pressure to Curb Crime, DC Council Examines School Absences (Washington Post)
- New Report Exposes Placement Delays, Safety Concerns at Youth Services Center (ABC 7)
past hearings
- November 19, 2025, 10:30 a.m. – RECORDING
- Public Hearing on four bills in the C.A.R.E. for Youth Plan:
- Record has closed for this hearing.
- November 13, 2025, 9:00 a.m. – RECORDING
- Joint Hearing with the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety on six bills in the C.A.R.E. for Youth Plan
- Support, Opportunity, Unity, and Legal Relationships (SOUL) Amendment Act of 2025
- Statutory Neglect Amendment Act of 2025
- Youth Records Transparency and Oversight Amendment Act of 2025
- Safe Pregnancy, Delivery, and Postpartum Care for Youth at DYRS Amendment Act of 2025
- Strengthening Capacity and Transparency at DYRS Amendment Act of 2025
- Promoting Parental Engagement at DYRS Amendment Act of 2025.
- Record has closed for this hearing.
- Joint Hearing with the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety on six bills in the C.A.R.E. for Youth Plan
- October 16, 2025, 2:00 p.m. – RECORDING
- Overcrowding Conditions at DYRS Youth Services Center
- Record has closed for this hearing.
- June 23, 2025, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. – RECORDING
- Report and Recommendations of the Committee on Youth Affairs on the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget for Agencies Under Its Purview – link
- June 11, 2025, 12:00 – 5:30 p.m. – RECORDING
- Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services Budget Hearing for Fiscal Year 2026
- Record has closed for this hearing.
- May 29, 2025, 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. – RECORDING
- Child and Family Services Agency Budget Hearing for Fiscal Year 2026
- Office of the Ombudsperson for Children Budget Hearing for Fiscal Year 2026
- Record has closed for this hearing.
- May 14, 2025 – 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. – RECORDING
- Public Roundtable on:
- B26-0186 – Justice-Involved Youth in Community Act of 2025
- REPORT: Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Fire and Life Safety Systems at the Youth Services Center and New Beginnings Youth Development Center
- Record has closed for this hearing.
- Public Roundtable on:
- March 6, 2025, 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – RECORDING
- Performance Oversight Hearing for:
- Mayor’s Office on African Affairs
- Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS)
- Office of the Attorney General (Juvenile-Related)
- Record has closed for this hearing.
- Performance Oversight Hearing for:
- February 13, 2025, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. – RECORDING
- Performance Oversight Hearing for:
- Mayor’s Office on African American Affairs
- Child and Family Services Agency
- Office of the Ombudsperson for Children
- Record has closed for this hearing.
- Performance Oversight Hearing for:
- January 29, 2025, 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – RECORDING
- Mayor’s Office on African Affairs
- Record has closed for this hearing.
Councilmember Parker’s Committee Assignments
In addition to serving as Chair of the Committee on Youth Affairs, Councilmember Parker is a member of the following committees:
Committee of the Whole
Chaired by Council Chairman Phil Mendelson. Learn more and view key staff here. Agencies under this committee include:
- Board for the Condemnation of Insanitary Buildings
- Board of Review of Anti-Deficiency Violations
- Commission on the Arts and Humanities
- Council of the District of Columbia
- Department of Buildings (including construction codes)
- Deputy Mayor for Education
- District of Columbia Auditor
- District of Columbia Public Charter Schools
- District of Columbia Public Schools
- District of Columbia Retirement Board (including its plans)
- District of Columbia State Athletics Commission
- Historic Preservation Review Board
- Interstate Compact Commissions
- Law Revision Commission
- Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
- Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
- National Capital Planning Commission
- OCFO Office of Budget and Planning
- Office of Planning (including commemorative works)
- Office of the State Superintendent of Education
- Office of Zoning, including Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals
- Other Post-Employment Benefits/Retiree Health Contribution
- Pay-As-You-Go Capital
- Research Practice Partnership
- State Board of Education (including ombudsman and advocate)
- Statehood Commission and delegation
- Tax Revision Commission
- Tobacco Settlement Financing Corporation
- University of the District of Columbia
Health
Chaired by Councilmember Christina Henderson (At-Large). Learn more and view key staff here. Agencies under this committee include:
- All of the advisory committees and professional boards serving the Department of Health or Department of Behavioral Health
- Behavioral Health Planning Council
- Cedar Hill Hospital
- Commission on Health Equity
- Council on Physical Fitness, Health, and Nutrition
- Department of Behavioral Health
- Department of Health
- Department of Health Care Finance
- Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services
- District of Columbia Health Benefit Exchange Authority
- Food Policy Council
- Health Information Exchange Policy Board
- Health Literacy Council
- Metropolitan Washington Regional Ryan White Planning Council
- Not-For-Profit Hospital Corporation
- Statewide Health Coordinating Council
Committee on Human Services
Chaired by Councilmember Matt Frumin (Ward 3). Learn more and view key staff here. Agencies under this committee include:
- Commission on Latino Community Development
- Department of Human Services
- District of Columbia Public Library System
- Interagency Council on Homelessness
- Office and Commission on Asian and Pacific Islanders Affairs
- Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment
- Office and Commission on Fathers, Men, and Boys
- Office and Commission on Latino Affairs
- Public Access Corporation
Transportation and the Environment
Chaired by Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6). Learn more and view key staff here. Agencies under this committee include:
- Bicycle Advisory Council
- Commission on Climate Change and Resiliency
- Department of Energy and Environment
- Department of Motor Vehicles
- District Department of Transportation
- District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority
- Green Buildings Advisory Council
- Green Finance Authority
- Pedestrian Advisory Council
- Soil and Water Conservation District
- Sustainable Energy Utility
- Washington Aqueduct
- Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
- Washington Metrorail Safety Commission