I have to admit that sitting behind a desk at DC Action for Children as an advocate for our youngest citizens is a bit unexpected for me. I had always imagined that I would become an investigator diving into the comorbid world of mental illness and drug addiction. After graduating with a BS in Psychology, continuing on to achieve a...

Editor's Note: DC Action is delighted to welcome Rasheeda Bean as our intern this summer. Rasheeda is a D.C. native and student. She is helping us with a little bit of everything, from stuffing envelopes to getting our office organized, all the while learning what it means to be an advocate. I consider myself an aspiring teacher who believes in...

Nearly 66,000 families in D.C. receive food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) every month -- about half of those benefits go to children. Without food stamps, vulnerable children are at serious risk of hunger and malnutrition. Of all the safety-net programs out there, none are more vital than SNAP, which literally puts food on the table.Now the...

Editor's Note: This month, DC Action is pleased to welcome two pediatric residents from Children's National Medical Center for an advocacy rotation as part of their training. This blog is by Priya Narayanan. With medicine becoming more specialized, residents are among the few medical practitioners who still see patients in a variety of settings. We see patients who are admitted...

Last week marked the beginning of the District’s FY 2010 agency performance oversight hearings and the Wilson building has been aflutter ever since. If you haven’t attended any yet, you’ve already missed about a dozen, but not to worry, hearings are scheduled through mid-March and there’s still time to sign up to testify as well. Please see the schedule for...

Congratulations, you made it to Friday! Here are two quick things you can do today (you know you have time -- if not today, then over the weekend):Help ensure that Congress doesn't repeal health care reform. The House is set to vote on the repeal of the Affordable Care Act next Wednesday, Jan. 12. Sign this petition by Voices for...

By now you've probably heard about the town hall meetings that Chairman Gray is holding in every ward in an effort to unite the city following the divisive primary. I am planning to attend the one tonight in Ward 7 and just received this notice yesterday that the locations for the remaining town halls have changed. (Thanks, Fair Budget Coalition...

One of our goals with "Little Citizens, Big Issues" is to showcase diverse voices and viewpoints from the community on issues affecting young children in the District. This post is by Lauren Hogan, director of public policy at the National Black Child Development Institute. Recently I attended a Children’s Budget Summit, sponsored by First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization...

As you can see, DC Action for Children has a new face. Our website is emblematic of our new approach to advocacy--serving as a connector and a resource to organizations and individuals dedicated to meeting the needs of the District's youngest and most vulnerable citizens, our children.Over the last decade, science has opened our eyes to the astonishing growth patterns...