The Washington Post: D.C. lacks tracking for kids in justice, welfare systems, report says

Ellie Silverman of The Washington Post covers a new 122-page report from the nonprofit Council for Court Excellence and the Office of the D.C. Auditor about youth involved with both the city’s welfare and juvenile justice systems.

The report provides the most comprehensive look yet at youth who have experienced both systems, detailing how the city’s failure to track this population failed to meet their needs and caused harm.

Children’s Law Center Senior Attorney and Policy Liaison, Megan Conway, was quoted in the piece, sharing thoughts on how this further impacts our clients and DC youth across the city.

Megan Conway, who has served as guardian ad litem, or the person appointed to represent the interests of a child in neglect hearings, for more than 100 youths, said this lack of coordination can cause a child to “check out.”

“You can burn through a child’s capacity to even respond to behavioral health intervention,” said Conway, who is a senior attorney and policy liaison at the Children’s Law Center.