As Tommy has me work on several policy fronts with the Committee on Human Services, I have to make sure I look at care and service delivery from several perspectives -- the government, the provider, the client, and the public. 

Although we cannot determine when court oversight of some of the agencies under the purview of the Committee on Human Services will come to a long awaited end, we must begin to look now toward the future and work on the development of a mechanisms that will be used to provide quality monitoring and oversight of the agencies as they exit current class action litigation.  We are striving to implement effective tools for monitoring and oversight that will replace those functions currently provided by the court.  I truly believe that our human service agencies, with strong leadership and a true visionary at the helm, can effectively govern themselves. I also believe that the Council of the District of Columbia is capable of performing its full oversight responsibilities without the involvement of the court. As agencies are working feverously towards reaching their court established benchmarks we must ensure that there is equal focus on ensuring quality practice.

Although reaching the court established benchmarks will end court monitor involvement in our agencies, this cannot be to sole focus for any agency. Quality practice must work hand in hand with benchmark attainment. Failure to focus on quality practice and lack of a plan to continue this focus post litigation will end us right back where we started and the residents of this city and more importantly the vulnerable populations that these agencies serve deserve more than a repeat of past failures. Children in the DC child welfare system who have already experienced more heartache than any child should, deserve more than a repeat of past failures. Our developmentally and physically disabled residents who may be totally dependent on grossly underpaid, under trained, and under appreciated direct care workers for most, if not all, of their daily living needs, deserve more than a repeat of past failures. Our committed youth who have fallen prey to the pressures of their economically burdened and violent neighborhoods, deserve more than a repeat of past failures. Although significant progress has been made within our human service agencies, more must be done in looking toward and planning for the future.

That drive is what keeps me, and many others throughout city government, coming back every morning to work on these difficult issues.

On Wednesday, June 25th the Committee held a hearing on B17-745, "Youth Mentoring Recruitment Incentives Amendment Act of 2008." Councilmember Wells heard testimony from nine organizations that provide mentoring services to the youth of the District.

The bill provides three incentives to entice mentors to get involved:

1) a $2,000.00 tax deduction would be available for mentors through qualified programs and with appropriate documentation
2) businesses that allow their employees to take time from their jobs to mentor would be eligible for a $10,000.00 tax credit (again, qualified programs and appropriate documentation needed)
3) District government employees could use accrued leave for their mentoring activities

There is currently an enormous unmet need to recruit new mentors.  One organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the National Capitol Area, testified that they have 250 children currently awaiting mentors and all of the other witnesses agreed that the District needs more mentors.

This bill and its companion, B17-752 "Office for Youth Mentoring Establishment Act of 2008," seek to meet this need and provide for a centralized clearinghouse for matching mentors and youth to agencies that can help.

The following organizations and individuals testified at the hearing and provide mentoring services (feel free to contact them for more information or to sign up as a mentor):

College Bound -- www.collegebound.org
 Mahlet Getachew, Program Coordinator
 (202) 842-0858 ext. 106

The Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund -- www.hoopdreams.org
 Theo Brannum - HDSF Program Director
  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop -- www.freemindsbookclub.org
 Tara Libert
 202-251-0343
  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership, Inc. -- www.ercpcp.org
 (Project NIA Mentoring Program: Mentoring With A Purpose)
 Theresa F. Gibson, MPA or James Worthen
 202-373-5767

Mentoring ToDAY -- www.mentoringtoday.org
 Whitney Louchheim, Chief Operating Officer
 202-678-9001

UPDATE: Due to inclement weather and dangerous thunderstorms, tonight's Friday Night Potluck Dinner & Discussion has been cancelled and will be rescheduled. Details to be announced soon.

This Friday evening, Councilmember Tommy Wells will host the 5th Friday Night Potluck Dinner & Discussion starting at 6:30 pm. This will be the 5th and final meeting in the series hosted by Tommy. The meeting will be held in the park between Hopkins and Potomac Gardens – specifically, the park bounded by K Street, Potomac Ave, and 13th Street, SE. Our office has worked with MPD to make sure that if needed, the street will be blocked off to accommodate the neighborhood meeting. Residents from Hopkins and Potomac Gardens apartments will be the hosts.

Last Friday night, it was a very impressive meeting of neighbors. I was struck by how comfortable residents were at the gathering. There was no sense of tension in the air and neighbors mingled in conversation while dinner finished on the grill. After everyone got a plateful, Tommy helped move everyone into small groups to focus on neighbor-to-neighbor discussions to answer two key questions:

- What can our community do to help keep kids safe?

- How should the community respond if something bad occurs with youth?

Neighbors brain-stormed new ideas and echoed themes we’ve heard at each of the previous potlucks. Here’s a summary write-up of the responses and ideas generated during this discussion (please note: this isn't an exhaustive listing of all ideas, but it reflects what was discussed during the group break out sessions).

On Friday night, Tommy will lead a conversation to continue developing these ideas. We hope to see you there.

Reminder: Please join Councilmember Wells at this month’s H Street NE Community Office Hours this Thursday, June 26, 2008, 8:00 to 9:30 am. at Nouveau Fleur, LLC, 508 H Street SE.

In keeping with the commitment to promote economic growth on H Street, NE, Councilmember Wells joins Ms. Debbie Moultry, owner of  Nouveau Fleur, LLC as she promotes her new establishment.  All are welcome.

Traditionally, Councilmember Wells and members of his staff will arrive at a location on H Street NE, to make the Council office more accessible to residents living in the neighborhood.  Representatives from his constituent services staff will also be on hand to help handle requests from residents.

The H Street NE community office hours recurs on the 4th Thursday of the month at various locations.  For more information please contact the office at 202-724-8072.