Title 4, Public Care Systems.

(a) There is established as a separate Cabinet-level agency, subordinate to the Mayor, the Child and Family Services Agency. (b) The Agency shall have as its functions and purposes: (1) Providing services that prevent family dissolution or breakdown, to avoid the need for protect…

(a) The Agency shall be administered by a full-time Director appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council. The Director shall be qualified by experience and training to carry out the purposes of this subchapter. (b) The Director shall report directly to the Mayor. (c) The …

(a) The Director of the Agency shall have the following duties and powers, any of which may be contracted for, as appropriate, with private or other public agencies: (1) Receive and investigate reports of abuse or neglect as provided in subchapter II of this chapter, § 4-1301.04 …

(a) To implement the Director’s authority to deliver child and family services pursuant to § 4-1303.03(a-1)(3), the Agency may financially support, in cooperation with other public and private agencies, a program of neighborhood-based services to families with children to meet pe…

(a) The Agency shall establish a single reporting line to receive reports of suspected child abuse and neglect. (b) The single reporting line shall be maintained by the Agency, with the assistance and support of the Metropolitan Police Department, and shall be staffed 24 hours a …

(a) The Agency shall track and publicly report the number of emancipating youth and families who apply for or are referred for assistance under the Rapid Housing Program, the number of youth and families who are eligible for assistance, and the number of youth and families who re…

(a)(1) All children in the custody of the Agency shall, to the extent that it is not inconsistent with a court order, receive a behavioral health screening and, if necessary, a behavioral health assessment within 30 days of initial contact with the Agency or a placement disruptio…

(a) Foster parents and group homes for children who have been abused or neglected shall use the reasonable and prudent parent standard when determining whether to allow a ward to participate in extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities. (b) The Agency, foster p…

(a)(1) At least 90 days before a youth leaves foster care in accordance with a transition plan described in section 475(5)(H) of the Social Security Act, approved June 17, 1980 (94 Stat. 510; 42 U.S.C. § 675(5)(H)) ("aging-out youth"), the Agency shall develop, in consultation wi…

(a) Repealed. (b) When an investigation indicates that a child has been left alone or with inadequate supervision, the Agency is authorized to make a temporary custodial placement of the child; provided, that: (1) Notice is left for the parent or custodian which shall state the p…

When the Agency has physical custody of a child pursuant to § 4-1303.03 or pursuant to § 16-2313 or § 16-2320, it may: (1) Authorize a medical evaluation or emergency medical, surgical, or dental treatment, or authorize an outpatient psychiatric evaluation or emergency outpatient…

(a) Information acquired by staff of the Child and Family Services Agency that identifies individual children reported as or found to be abused or neglected or which identifies other members of their families or other persons shall be considered confidential and may be released o…

Whoever willfully discloses, receives, makes use of or knowingly permits the use of confidential information concerning a child or individual in violation of this subchapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than $1,000. A violat…

(a) For the purposes of this section, the term: (1) “Immediate birth family member” means a person 18 years of age or older who is the birth mother, father, or sibling of a registrant. (2) “Registrant” means an individual, 18 years of age or older, who was, or currently is, a res…

(a) There is established as a nonlapsing fund the Voluntary Foster Care Registry Fund (“VFCR Fund”), into which shall be deposited all fees collected pursuant to § 4-1303.08(c)(2)(A) and any gift or appropriation intended to assist in the funding of the Voluntary Foster Care Regi…

In Fiscal Year 2020, the Agency shall award, on a competitive basis, grants to: (a)(1) Support a program that provides targeted legal intervention services in matters involving child custody, child support, domestic violence, landlord-tenant issues, housing conditions, federally …

(a) The Agency shall: (1) Notify the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children ("Ombudsperson for Children"), established by Chapter 6C of this title, in writing within 24 hours of the Agency becoming aware of an allegation of a critical incident; (2) Provide the Ombudsperson for C…

(a) Upon a child's removal under § 4-1301.07 or § 4-1303.04(c), or within 90 days of March 10, 2023 if the child is in the care of the Agency at the time, the Agency shall ascertain whether the child may be eligible for benefits administered by the Social Security Administration …

(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Agency shall provide luggage to a child who is: (A) Entering foster care; (B) Moving foster care placements; (C) Starting higher education or military service; or (D) Exiting foster care. (2) The Agency …

For the purposes of this part, the term: (1)(A) “Agency” shall have the same meaning provided in § 2-502(3), except that the term “agency” shall include: (i) The Social Services Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia; and (ii) The Child and Family Services Age…

(a)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a disclosing official shall upon written request by any person, and may upon his or her own initiative, disclose to the public the findings and information related to a child fatality or near fatality, except as provided in parag…

(a) Any person who has submitted a request to the disclosing official to release findings and information under § 4-1303.32, and whose request has been denied in whole or in part, may bring a civil action in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (“Superior Court”) to com…

The District, the disclosing official, and any agencies, committees, officials, officers, employees, or attorneys of the District authorized by the disclosing official to assist the disclosing official with his or her responsibilities and duties under this part shall have full im…

Nothing in this part shall limit or restrict any right of access or disclosure that any person may have under subchapter II of Chapter 5 of Title 2 (“Freedom of Information Act”). Section 4-1303.06 shall not provide a basis for denying any request under the Freedom of Information…

The Mayor shall, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, issue rules to implement the provisions of this part. The rules issued pursuant to this section shall be transmitted to the Council within 30 days of February 13, 2002, for a 45-day period of Council review (exclu…

(a) There is hereby established the Citizen Review Panel, whose purpose is to serve as an external, independent oversight body for the District’s child welfare system, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of District government agencies involved in child protection as well as …

(a) The Panel shall be comprised of 15 members to be appointed as follows: (1) Eight members shall be appointed by the Mayor, and (2) Seven members shall be appointed by the Council by resolution. (b)(1) Panel members shall be residents of the District. (2) None of the members sh…

(a)(1) A quorum shall consist of 8 members and the Panel shall develop written bylaws, with the approval of a majority of Panel members, to establish other procedural requirements it considers necessary, including the designation of additional officers. (2) The Panel may establis…

(a) The Panel shall have access to data on children and families maintained by District government agencies, including the Agency, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health, the Department of Mental Health, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Office of the Ch…

Panel members shall be subject to the conflict of interest and disclosure requirements established by §§ 1-1162.23 and 1-1162.24. Any member affiliated with an organization providing services to children or families, as an officer, director, partner, employee, consultant, or cont…

For the purposes of this part, the term “Youth” means an individual under 21 years of age who is in the care of the Agency.

(a) Within 90 days of April 23, 2013, the Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2 [§ 2-501 et seq.], shall amend existing rules governing youth in foster care, namely, 29 DCMR §§ 6004, 6203, and 6303, (Statement of Rights and Responsibilities for youth in foster h…

(a) When a youth comes under the care of the Agency, the Agency shall inform the youth of the youth’s rights and disseminate to the youth and the appropriate care providers the Statements of Rights and Responsibilities. (b) The Agency shall disseminate the Statements of Rights an…

(a) Within 90 days of April 23, 2013, the Agency shall develop an implementation plan for the dissemination of the Statements of Rights and Responsibilities and a mechanism for receiving and handling complaints or concerns made by youth or on behalf of youth and provide a mechani…

For the purposes of this part, the term: (1) "Foster parent" means an individual licensed by a District-licensed child-placing agency, as defined under § 4-1402, who provides 24-hour substitute care to a youth placed away from his or her parent or guardian. (2) "Youth" shall have…

(a) Within 180 days after the February 18, 2017, the Mayor, pursuant to § 4-1303.85, shall amend existing rules governing foster parents to: (1) Incorporate existing rights and responsibilities for foster parents provided by local law, federal law, local regulations, agency admin…

(a) When a foster parent is licensed by the Agency, the Agency shall inform the foster parent of the foster parent's rights and responsibilities and disseminate to the foster parent and the appropriate child-placing agency the Statements of Rights and Responsibilities for Foster …

(a) Within 180 days after February 18, 2017, the Agency shall establish: (1) A plan for the dissemination of the Statements of Rights and Responsibilities for Foster Parents to foster parents and the appropriate child-placing agency; and (2) A process for receiving, investigating…

The Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, shall issue rules to implement the provisions of this part. The proposed rules shall be submitted to the Council for a 45-day period of review, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, legal holidays, and days of Council recess. I…

For the purposes of this part: (1) “Adult” means an individual who is at least 18 years of age. (1A) “Agency” means the Child and Family Services Agency established by § 4-1303.01a. (2) “Applicant” means a person applying for a criminal records check under this part. (3) “Convict…

The following individuals shall apply for a criminal records check under this part: (1) An individual who seeks to be approved or licensed as an adoptive parent by the Agency or by any licensed child-placing agency; (2) An individual who seeks to be approved or licensed as a fost…

(a) Within the time stated in subsection (b) of this section, an applicant shall apply for a criminal records check by submitting to the Agency, licensed child-placing agency, or the police: (1) A complete set of legible fingerprints taken on standard fingerprint cards by the Age…

(a) A person who is required to have a criminal records check under this part shall pay for: (1) The mandatory processing fee required by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for conducting the national criminal records check; (2) Reasonable administrative costs to the police for …

(a) The Agency or licensed child-placing agency shall forward complete sets of legible fingerprints taken on standard fingerprints cards by the Agency or licensed child-placing agency to the police or state law enforcement agency. (b) The police shall: (1) Access the District cri…

(a) The provisions of this section shall apply to an individual who seeks to be: (1) Approved or licensed as an adoptive or foster parent, a legal guardian, or a kinship caregiver; (2) Permitted to become an adoptive parent under Chapter 3 of Title 16; or (3) Permitted to have a …

(a) If an individual described in § 4-1305.02(1), (2), or (3), or any adult residing in the home of an individual described in § 4-1305.02(1), (2), or (3), fails to request a criminal records check as required by this part, the Agency may deny approval or licensure. (b) If an ind…