Mayor's Advisory Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect

Total public members:                   11

Method of Appointment:                Appointed by Mayor

Length of Appointment:                 3 years

Residency:                                     Strong preference for DC residents from all 8 wards

Paid board:                                    No (all roles are voluntary)

Description:

The Committee shall advise the Mayor on aspects of the District of Columbia's continuum of child welfare services, including prevention, early intervention, treatment, and sources of permanency (i.e., renunification, guardianship, kinship care, and adoption).

Commission Membership:

The Committee consist of 11 members to be representative of advocacy organizations that work on behalf of children and youth, community-based child welfare providers, foster/adoptive/birth parent advocacy groups, university/public policy organizations/research centers, and others representing child welfare issues.

Qualifications for Appointment:

Committee members shall be appointed based on demonstrated expertise of one or more disciplines relating to child welfare and/or represent the interests of the public in child welfare issues.

Time Commitment:

The commission meets every other month.

Description: The Committee shall advise the Mayor on aspects of the District of Columbia's continuum of child welfare services, including prevention, early intervention, treatment, and sources of permanency (Le., reunification~ guardianship. kinship care, and adoption).

The Committee shall:

A. Recommend approaches to improving coordination of services among public agencies responsible for the provision of child welfare services;

B. Promote public awareness of programs and advise on public concerns relating to child abuse

C. At the direction of the Mayor, develop reports/plans regarding specific issues;

D. Serve as the Multidisciplinary Task Force for the purpose of the Children's Justice Act Grants under Public Law I00-294, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1988;

E. At a minimum, the Chairperson shall convene the Committee on a quarterly basis;

F. Maintain meeting minutes; and

G. Undertake such other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

A. Committee members shall be appointed by the Mayor based on demonstrated expertise of one or more disciplines relating to child welfare and/or represent the interests of the public in child welfare issues.

B. The Mayor will appoint up to 11 non-governmental members that shall include but not be limited to representatives of:

i) Advocacy organizations that work on behalf of children and youth, i.e,. health, mental health, education, legal, prevention of child abuse/neglect, and permanency.

ii) Community-based child welfare providers,

iii) Foster, adoptive, and birth parent advocacy groups,

iv) Universities, public policy organizations and research centers.

C. The Mayor will appoint government representatives of the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA), Department of Mental Health (DMH), Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS), Department of Human Services (DHS), Department on Disability Services (DDS), Department of Health (DOH), Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Office of the Attorney General (OAG), the DC Superior Court Family Court Division, District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), and Office of State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to the Committee.

D. The Mayor shall appoint a Chairperson from among the non-governmental members and a Vice Chairperson from among the governmental members, both of whom shall serve in those offices at the pleasure of the Mayor.

E. The Committee may establish such subcommittees, as it deems necessary, provided that each subcommittee is co-chaired by a governmental member of the Committee.