FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, October 8, 2019 Contact: Tom Fazzini, [email protected], office: (202) 724-8180, mobile: (202) 262-8998

Working to strengthen oversight of the District’s child welfare system, today Ward 1 D.C. Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau introduced a bill establishing an independent and impartial office of the Child Safety and Well-Being Ombudsperson. The Child Safety and Well-being Ombudsperson Establishment Act of 2019 was co-introduced by Councilmembers David Grosso, Robert White, Mary Cheh, Charles Allen, Elissa Silverman, and Brandon Todd. It was referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services, which is chaired by Councilmember Nadeau.

UPDATE: The office of Councilmember Nadeau released the following statement on Tuesday, August 13, 2019:

As Chair of the Human Services Committee, Councilmember Nadeau is working to ensure residents currently served by the Developmental Disabilities Administration Health Initiative contract continue receiving the same level of care regardless of provider. Recently, the Department on Disability Services announced that the current contract which provides vital services to residents with developmental disabilities would expire on August 30, 2019 and the services would be moved to DDS and other providers. Immediately after this decision became public, her office received an outpouring of emails and phone calls from advocates, families, and members of the disability rights community expressing their concerns.

WASHINGTON – Today, Ward 1 D.C. Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau introduced, and the DC Council passed, emergency legislation that allows parents to designate a trusted adult who can serve as legal guardian for children if parents are detained. The new law is a response to heightened threats from the federal government of ICE raids. The Standby Guardian Emergency Amendment Act of 2019 was co-introduced by all Councilmembers and passed unanimously.

I am deeply troubled by reports from advocates that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement conducted an action in Adams Morgan this past weekend that resulted in two parents being brought into ICE custody and separated from their teenage children. These actions tear our families apart and sow deep distrust in law enforcement. As Councilmember, I have called for an abolition of ICE and wrote DC’s law to establish a permanent immigrant legal services fund.

Councilmember Nadeau released the following statement in the wake of the recent attack on a gay couple on U Street: