District Of Columbia 2023-2024 Regular Session

District Of Columbia Council Bill B25-0500 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
2	2	The John A. Wilson Building
3	3	1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, nw
4	4	Washington, D.C. 20004
5	5
6	6	1
7	7
8	8	Statement of Introduction
9	9	Alternative Restorative Therapy Options for Youth Amendment Act of 2023
10	10	September 26, 2023
11	11	Today, I am introducing the Alternative Restorative Therapy (ART) Options for Youth
12	12	Amendment Act, along with Councilmembers Janeese Lewis George, Charles Allen, Kenyan R.
13	13	McDuffie, Brooke Pinto, Matthew Frumin, and Robert C. White, Jr.
14	14	This bill would make a vital amendment to the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Act of
15	15	1977 by requiring the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) to provide alternative forms of
16	16	therapy to foster youth, including art therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, dance or movement
17	17	therapy, and narrative therapy. While CFSA currently offers a broad array of therapy options for
18	18	youth and families, most do not explicitly facilitate opportunities for youth to non-verbally and
19	19	physically externalize their experiences in a therapeutic setting.
20	20	CFSA-involved youth face unique challenges, ones which traditional talk-based therapies may
21	21	not fully address. For example, many children and teens in the child welfare system may not
22	22	want to verbalize, or may struggle to verbalize, their experiences and emotions due to trauma or
23	23	difficult circumstances. Alternative therapies provide creative and nonverbal avenues for them to
24	24	express their feelings and experiences.
25	25	1
26	26	Alternative therapies also offer structured and safe
27	27	outlets for youth to explore complex emotions. Young people can externalize their feelings,
28	28	making it easier to discuss and reflect upon their experiences during therapy sessions. Alternative
29	29	therapies are holistic, engaging different parts of the brain than traditional talk therapy, and allow
30	30	youth to access and process emotions that may not be reached through traditional therapy options
31	31	alone.
32	32	2
33	33	The expressive processes involved in alternative therapies teach valuable coping
34	34	strategies that extend beyond therapy sessions, aiding in stress management and facing life's
35	35	challenges. Finally, alternative therapies can foster a strong therapeutic relationship between the
36	36	youth and therapists, promoting trust and rapport through collaborative expressive endeavors.
37	37	3
38	38
39	39	Holistic and flexible approaches to therapy are essential for the well-being of CFSA-involved
40	40	youth. While talk-based therapies remain an important tool, alternative therapies provide youth
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42	42	1
43	43	Art Therapy with Children
44	44	2
45	45	The Helpfulness of Holistic Arts–Based Group Work with Children Living in Foster Care
46	46	3
47	47	Innovative and Brain-Friendly Strategies for Building a Therapeutic Alliance With Adolescents
48	48	Christina Henderson Committee Member
49	49	Councilmember, At-Large Hospital and Health Equity
50	50	Chairperson, Committee on Health Judiciary and Public Safety
51	51	Transportation and the Environment
52	52	COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
53	53	The John A. Wilson Building
54	54	1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, nw
55	55	Washington, D.C. 20004
56	56
57	57	2
58	58	with the opportunity to grow and heal without having to verbalize the narrative and effects of
59	59	trauma.
60	60	I look forward to working closely with Council colleagues to advance this legislation in the
61	61	coming months. Together, we can ensure that foster youth in the District of Columbia receive the
62	62	comprehensive care and support they need and deserve.
63	63	1
64	64	_____________________________ ___________________________ 1
65	65	Councilmember Charles Allen Councilmember Christina Henderson 2
66	66	3
67	67	4
68	68	_____________________________ ___________________________ 5
69	69	Councilmember Janeese Lewis George Councilmember Brooke Pinto 6
70	70	7
71	71	8
72	72	_____________________________ ___________________________ 9
73	73	Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie Councilmember Matthew Frumin 10
74	74	11
75	75	12
76	76	_____________________________ 13
77	77	Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. 14
78	78	15
79	79	16
80	80	A BILL 17
81	81	18
82	82	_______________ 19
83	83	20
84	84	IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 21
85	85	22
86	86	_______________________ 23
87	87	24
88	88	25
89	89	To amend the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Act of 1977 to require the Child and Family 26
90	90	Services Agency to offer alternative forms of therapy to children in the custody of the 27
91	91	agency. 28
92	92	29
93	93	BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act 30
94	94	may be cited as the “Alternative Restorative Therapy (ART) Options for Youth Amendment Act of 31
95	95	2023”. 32
96	96	Sec. 2. Section 303e(b) of the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Act of 1977, effective 33
97	97	June 7, 2012 (D.C. Law 19-141; D.C. Official Code § 4-1303.03e(b)) is amended to read as 34
98	98	follows: 35
99	99	2
100	100
101	101	“(b)(1) The Agency shall connect all children who are assessed as being in need of 36
102	102	behavioral health care to an appropriate behavioral health service. 37
103	103	(2) The Agency shall make available to children in the agency’s custody alternative 38
104	104	forms of therapy, including: 39
105	105	“(A) Art therapy; 40
106	106	“(B) Music therapy; 41
107	107	“(C) Drama therapy; 42
108	108	“(D) Dance or Movement therapy; and 43
109	109	“(E) Narrative therapy.”. 44
110	110	Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 45
111	111	The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact 46
112	112	statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved 47
113	113	October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 48
114	114	Sec. 4. Effective date. 49
115	115	This act shall take effect after approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, 50
116	116	action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as provided in 51
117	117	section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 52
118	118	Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia 53
119	119	Register. 54