Facilities & Family Services & Health Public Hearing

COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COMMITTEE ON FACILITIES AND FAMILY SERVICES NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004 CHAIRWOMAN LEWIS GEORGE COMMITTEE ON FACILITIES AND FAMILY SERVICES AND CHAIRWOMAN HENDERSON COMMITTEE ON HEALTH ANNOUNCE A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING on B25-0500, Alternative Restorative Therapy (ART) Options for Youth Amendment Act of 2023 and Mental Health in the Child Welfare System on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Live via Zoom Video Conference Broadcast Council Website (http://www.DCCouncil.us) Councilmember Lewis George’s website (https://janeeseward4.com/live) On Wednesday, December 6, 2023, Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, Chair of the Committee on Facilities and Family Services and Councilmember Christina Henderson, Chair of the Committee on Health will hold a joint public hearing to consider B25-0500, Alternative Restorative Therapy (ART) Options for Youth Amendment Act of 2023 and to examine the mental health issues facing children, adolescents, and families within the District's child welfare system and the District’s adolescent behavioral health system. B25-0500, Alternative Restorative Therapy (ART) Options for Youth Amendment Act of 2023 would require the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) to provide alternative forms of therapy to foster youth, including art therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, dance or movement therapy, and narrative therapy. The hearing will be held virtually via the Zoom platform from 10:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Those who wish to testify must register using the Council’s Hearing Management System at https://lims.dccouncil.gov/hearings by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 4, 2023. Testimony is limited to 3 minutes for individuals and 5 minutes for one representative of a bone fide organization. Witnesses who anticipate needing spoken language interpretation or require sign language interpretation are requested to inform the Committee office of the need as soon as possible but no later than five (5) business days before the proceeding. We will make every effort to fulfill timely requests, although alternatives may be offered. Requests received in less than five business days may not be fulfilled. Witnesses will receive instructions on how to participate by Zoom prior to the hearing. If you have additional questions, please email facilities@dccouncil.gov or contact Sebastian Weinmann at sweinmann@dccouncil.gov.  Public witnesses will participate virtually via the Internet on the Zoom video conference platform. Testimony should be submitted through the Council’s Hearing Management System (https://lims.dccouncil.gov/hearings) in advance of the hearing. Testimony will be publicly accessible upon Committee review. If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will made a part of the official record. Statements for the record should be submitted to facilities@dccouncil.gov or left by voicemail by calling (202) 350-1396 (up to 3 minutes which will be transcribed). The record will close at 5:00pm on Wednesday, December 13, 2023.