[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6536554,"mediaKeyId","3773851-d075a842965adef48a2c9dda1ce46091","parentId",3773851,"title","DOES lays out GrowDC workforce investments and apprenticeships; council questions paid‑leave reductions","audioSeconds",3120,"startMs",16800000,"endMs",19920000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3773851-d075a842965adef48a2c9dda1ce46091&start=16800&end=19920","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3773851-d075a842965adef48a2c9dda1ce46091/thumbnail_16800000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6536554/DOES-lays-out-GrowDC-workforce-investments-and-apprenticeships-council-questions-paidleave-reductions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6536554-c9e5a2fd2eb87654bece53ce7941fa9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770492964&Signature=K9UntN3PAf-xVus~XtYy-vIgh13tVMFJ0avhmAgwIKtCkpweXcrWi2uLMsGEyJIepFiK8WwPMAzsvbj3xuv6r9LoiNm7Nz~PPNa~XF4TxnYD69mRu7QcjmoDpY3V0rBpvz57h-roGafQ~HYns1Umnno8-PPOhtxc9nW3bp-iGsCV423sAiKYwiKLtgGWj-dVebBf~EgHXRXgnaWJZMeYRaM1~WkRYBApjUJRmatNggKIwdkQzkhWW1OfzllwGzZh~zP1CgzCfVOvmGCubSPEYy-MZBd0PhXjaX4YFmKmrqH1wKmAaD2uKWT9IQyD2gzYS9RDIxcP2i25bQC6YOY9kw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","District of Columbia (Executive Administration and Labor)","date","2025-06-11T00:00:00Z","article","At the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor’s June 11 budget oversight hearing, Department of Employment Services (DOES) Director Unique Morris Hughes presented the agency’s FY26 GrowDC budget and described planned investments in youth employment, apprenticeships and trainings while defending administration of unemployment insurance and paid‑leave programs.

DOES’s overview: Director Hughes said the proposed FY26 operating budget for DOES is $181,600,000, composed of local, federal and special purpose revenue funds. He said the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program would provide roughly 12,000 young residents with six‑week work experiences at more than 725 host sites; the agency intends to place 1,000 high school students in internships and to provide a 22–24 year old “reconnect” program for 175 young adults. Hughes discussed expansion of registered apprenticeships—DOES said it currently works with several hundred sponsors and spoke to a target of growing apprenticeship placements and pre‑apprenticeships, including a recent regionally registered apprenticeship for AI data annotators.

Workforce and training highlights: DOES described the DC Infrastructure Academy (DCIA) as training participants for immediate hiring in IT, energy and construction and said it planned to train about 350 participants and provide roughly 30 paid internships for DCIA graduates across city agencies. The department said it is using partnerships (Howard University, MedStar Georgetown and others) to expand healthcare career pipelines and planned additional on‑the‑job training slots this year.

Safety net and trust‑fund administration: Hughes emphasized DOES’s continuing role administering unemployment insurance (UI), workers’ compensation, the universal paid leave (UPL) program and paid family leave (PFL). He said UI tax collections improved and reported that the UI tax collection unit increased collections and compliance to secure about $11,600,000 in FY25 to protect the UI trust fund. DOES said the Office of Paid Family Leave adjudicated roughly 83,000 claims and paid about $130,000,000 in FY24 and $98,000,000 in FY25 to date.

Council questioning on Universal Paid Leave changes: Committee members pressed DOES on the mayor’s GrowDC proposal to reduce some UPL benefits (for example, a proposed change discussed in the hearing that would cap the weekly payment at $1,000 and reduce maximum weeks for some categories). Director Hughes said the FY26 package was devised to align revenues and benefits amid tight fiscal constraints and provided program utilization figures: average family‑leave utilization about 5.9 weeks and medical leave about seven weeks. The director also supplied a claimant breakdown for recent periods: parental leave claimants with weekly benefits over $1,000 were reported at about 52.3%; medical leave 21.7%; and family leave 15.3% (the department offered to follow up with more granular demographic data requested by council members).

First Source and local hiring: DOES provided First Source monitoring statistics: for calendar 2024 the department said 587 First Source agreements were executed and 889 hires were reported across those projects, with 477 hires (53.7%) filled by District residents. DOES staff told the committee that First Source monitoring and enforcement are ongoing and that assessed wage‑theft penalties are being collected and, when appropriate, directed to workforce training or outreach uses.

Jobs Trust Fund and training grants: DOES described the Jobs Trust Fund (fed by fines/penalties from compliance) as a small but targeted resource for competitive grants and training activities. The department reported $275,363.32 collected as of May 1 (FY25 to date) and signaled a proposed collection target of roughly $600,000 for FY26; DOES said grants from that fund are issued through public notices and competitive RFAs with applicant conferences and scoring.

Ending and follow-up: Committee members asked DOES to provide additional demographic and utilization data related to paid‑leave claims, the percentage of claimants exceeding the proposed new weekly cap, and more detailed job vacancy and apprenticeship cost estimates so the council can evaluate the budget’s fiscal assumptions. The committee left the hearing record open through June 25 and requested written back‑up materials.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","District of Columbia (Executive Administration and Labor) - Committee on Executive Administration & Labor, Budget Oversight Hearing, Anita Bonds, Chairperson - Jun 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Department of Employment Services Director Unique Morris Hughes told the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor on June 11 that the GrowDC FY26 proposal expands youth placements, apprenticeships and the DC Infrastructure Academy while continuing to administer unemployment insurance and paid‑leave programs.","taxTitle","Committee on Executive Administration and Labor, Committees, Legislative, District of Columbia","taxId",15950,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6536567,"Nonprofits and seniors urge restoration of proposed cuts to D.C. aging services at EAL budget hearing",14555,205000,14760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3773851-d075a842965adef48a2c9dda1ce46091&start=205&end=14760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3773851-d075a842965adef48a2c9dda1ce46091/thumbnail_205000.jpg","/articles/6536567/Nonprofits-and-seniors-urge-restoration-of-proposed-cuts-to-DC-aging-services-at-EAL-budget-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6536567-d65204292d6c956c0626ee988fc1039f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770492964&Signature=I84fUejHTgn-rpsfiOSwZbrmxKcgjAo~a4wa9NHpY~7I9U55xJfh6XyoL5eswwZGlL4tjK3v4AGm1IVbhbigvv4SkJTBHAk31-ypIxzwrll1QtnvCLv1z6CcYR445d7wxx1x6FYXSsoQtfYHJZjbEUh65Av~7MAP6X1tIpAT-JpY00ls3HKrhuRpWmx8MZr4NjzPHp4n81LOEjIS8xZ9Dwf2F5bh~y1NTvX0dCtqB7N4DDMJjPDsq6VTo9ige4MOxUH4rjs3VOhqthiTMTH1j~XTQ64KZcxlvc9MiDwbwQEOO9ZOoUZI3QXHM6tyhwbRcfcPw4meSaF-Bn9EXL0QjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee on Executive Administration and Labor, chaired by At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds, heard more than two dozen witnesses on June 11, 2025, urging the council to restore proposed reductions to the District’s Department on Aging and Community Living (DACL) budget for fiscal 2026.

Witnesses from senior centers, nonprofit providers and advocacy groups told the committee that the mayor’s FY26 proposal—cited in the hearing as $62,200,000 and 122 FTEs, reflecting a roughly 4.32% reduction—would translate to cuts in services that many seniors depend on.

Why it matters: DACL funds lead agencies, senior wellness centers, home-delivered meals, transportation and caregiver supports that, witnesses said, prevent hunger, isolation and unnecessary institutionalization. Providers said recent local restorations and one-time enhancements helped but warned proposed cuts would erode capacity at a time of rising demand.

Providers described specific program impacts and local needs. Maria McPhail, president and CEO of VIDA Senior Centers, told the committee VIDA delivered 115,332 services in FY24 and said VIDA provided “over 27,000 culturally appropriate congregate meals” with DACL support; VIDA said it has 1,800 enrolled seniors and had delivered 33,703 units of service in 2025 to date. McPhail said VIDA was grateful the council restored $60,000 in FY25 funding that reversed a staff-hours reduction in 2024, but warned one of VIDA’s major funders might cut support by 30% in FY26 and cautioned that VIDA generally begins each fiscal year “with a projected deficit of over $200,000.”

Rhonda Cunningham Holmes, executive director of Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE), said LCE’s legal hotline handled more than 4,600 calls in FY24 and that in that year hotline attorneys resolved roughly 3,400 cases. Holmes said the council added $110,000 last year to add an attorney; that $110,000 “has been eliminated in the proposed EACL budget.” She warned: “Cutting funding does not cut demand for services.” Holmes asked the committee to restore the $110,000.

AARP volunteer speakers and advocates highlighted nutrition and caregiver supports. The hearing record includes AARP testimony supporting increases proposed by the mayor for nutrition—$302,000 for community dining and $930,000 for home-delivered meals in the mayor’s proposal—and urging the council to restore cuts to caregiver programs (testimony noted a $1,200,000 cut to caregiving supports attributed to expected federal reductions). Witnesses asked the council to preserve a $300,000 one-time enhancement for the Safe at Home home modifications program.

Transportation was repeatedly raised. Witnesses warned that a proposed 9% reduction to senior transportation (the hearing cited a $517,000 reduction in a transportation line item) would worsen access to wellness centers and medical care; Seabury Resources for Aging and other providers described rebuilding local connector services and urged stable funding for transit that connects seniors to programs and grocery runs.

Other details included: testimony from Seabury that DACL-supported programs represent approximately $3.3 million in funding to Seabury and support more than 6,000 older adults; Iona Senior Services stressed its dementia navigator work and said an FY25 enhancement of $250,000 was critical to preserve capacity for people with cognitive impairment; East River Family Strengthening Collaborative and other lead agencies urged no reductions in lead-agency budgets because they provide the neighborhood access points for services; Palisades Village and the D.C. Villages Collaborative described volunteer-based “village” programs and urged restoration of baseline funding for villages.

Several witnesses offered case examples. Iona’s testimony recounted a person labeled “Mrs. Woods” who, without community-based dementia navigation, would likely have cycled through emergency rooms, shelters and the streets; Iona said dementia navigators successfully placed her in appropriate care. LCE offered legal case examples in which hotline guidance led to dismissal or discharge of large liabilities for individual seniors.

Committee procedure and next steps: Chairperson Bonds noted the hearing record would remain open until June 25 and that the committee planned to hear Department on Aging and Community Living leadership at a June 16 follow-up session. Witnesses were asked to submit written materials and budget detail by the record-closing date.

Ending: Speakers urged the council not to pare programs that prevent costly downstream outcomes (evictions, hospitalizations and institutionalization) and asked for targeted restorations to caregiver support, legal services, lead agencies, transportation and village baseline funding. Chairperson Bonds closed the hearing at 4:06 p.m. on June 11, 2025.","The Committee on Executive Administration and Labor, chaired by At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds, heard more than two dozen witnesses on June 11, 2025, urging the council to restore proposed FY26 reductions to the Department on Aging and Community Living, warning the cuts would harm transportation, caregiver supports, legal help and neighborhood senior services.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6536558,"Legal hotline for D.C. seniors at capacity as proposed attorney funding eliminated, LCE warns",329,1921000,2250000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3773851-d075a842965adef48a2c9dda1ce46091&start=1921&end=2250","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3773851-d075a842965adef48a2c9dda1ce46091/thumbnail_1921000.jpg","/articles/6536558/Legal-hotline-for-DC-seniors-at-capacity-as-proposed-attorney-funding-eliminated-LCE-warns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6536558-dd9d7a513fd5c1e3b559b6aae298aa95/orig.mp4?Expires=1770492964&Signature=R3KpWlYqxJE8PLXF7rhN9lpK19EtfZoWBhMGMbmt2zJk~FLHf-q2gloAbHcVngOZnIi1vOdSDUpM9Cp5Ysyxtvz-GHo~rhOpsUG3Cj3xU0IPWVCFUqInKdDlnrl8Yi0MMfjQfBSgyqoq5cZakhA1jXslBgGuMLj6vRlNzTsomT~rwses9d-PCX-fHHmv8Cc6tgAfseQwJigw7-Llx4ZN0WtbBm-jrjaBl~yCYK8SxI8l76DkdzGL09CC7-FKVTW6mETQFKE6EU~jo48Tf6bSgllUiiInJx7jKhwTx2VWNkVzk4OWZRmLqTuwqQImbYgwiNn9iq7CvMs-ovig9D0pgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rhonda Cunningham Holmes, executive director of Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE), told the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor on June 11 that the LCE hotline is at capacity and that the proposed FY26 DACL/EACL budget removes $110,000 that the council added in FY25 to support an additional attorney.

Why it matters: LCE’s hotline provides legal advice and representation for district residents age 60 and over on housing, benefits, fraud and other issues. Holmes said the hotline served as a critical “gateway to justice” and gave examples: a 64‑year‑old woman whose traffic case was dismissed after hotline assistance and a 71‑year‑old retired teacher who discharged $140,000 in student loan debt with LCE help.

Testimony and figures: Holmes said hotline intake specialists handled more than 4,600 calls in FY24 and hotline attorneys resolved approximately 3,400 cases that year. She said the council allocated $110,000 last year to add an attorney; the proposed FY26 EACL budget eliminates that $110,000 and the mayor’s budget proposal includes steep cuts to broader access to justice funding, testimony said. Holmes warned the reduction would leave seniors with fewer options and pressed the committee to restore the $110,000, saying LCE’s call‑back policy (attempt to call back clients within two days to schedule attorney appointments) is constrained when slots are full.

Holmes requested restoration of the targeted funding and noted that as other legal services providers contract (testimony cited proposed “access to justice” reductions in the mayor’s plan), demand on LCE would grow.

Ending: LCE offered to follow up with additional data and asked the committee to prioritize restoration of the attorney line in the FY26 budget.
","Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE) told the committee June 11 that its legal hotline handled thousands of calls in FY24 and that the council’s FY25 one-time add of $110,000 to hire an attorney has been removed from the proposed FY26 budget; LCE urged restoration to avoid leaving seniors without legal help.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6536562,"Sibley and Iona press for Club Memory, dementia navigation expansion as D.C. population ages",1471,5909000,7380000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3773851-d075a842965adef48a2c9dda1ce46091&start=5909&end=7380","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3773851-d075a842965adef48a2c9dda1ce46091/thumbnail_5909000.jpg","/articles/6536562/Sibley-and-Iona-press-for-Club-Memory-dementia-navigation-expansion-as-DC-population-ages","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6536562-e88b303c404cdc83ad21dc1d6bbac97d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770492964&Signature=Dow0Y~ZZ3qRvgtXPIsL6AvFG8CKdBeDeQ~6PffGAmcHvJIusP3j9JSHjjgFmgVQbp9QhI0SbieLZppSYpnj6uPhWIuCg4pFJJBAtvQwBQARaPzSb2zn38c1l5IY6TSfQNaVWRZAGJqUXIxsrds8sHJp4-BEOmDq7Iv5m94fVaK7MNNluEDsXLNxD-z1oTD-xwbBAQ6j4ba7w-oeTORFWiaDEwYdWpa6cha6cDodzZHwpc2dQT8P5regWYxnNoSy7zseGFPbIk4I5efyKaHVgSt63FGOwXuGwjmiqSa0XpqGLUFKU7WBvh8LrruH7p9ZuVaJyc62Nwjltorb~9vb09A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sibley Memorial Hospital and other dementia-service providers urged the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor on June 11, 2025, to increase funding for Club Memory and related dementia navigation programs that serve older residents and their care partners.

Why it matters: Testimony described a high local prevalence of dementia—Sibley cited a 13% prevalence among adults 65 and older in D.C., which the hospital said equates to over 10,000 residents living with dementia—and stressed that oversight, navigation and peer-support programs reduce emergency room use, repeated hospitalizations and homelessness for people living with cognitive impairment.

Sibley’s director of government affairs, Rayna Jordan, said Club Memory currently serves roughly 900 seniors and 160 care partners across six senior wellness centers and five churches; she said 42% of Club Memory participants live in Wards 7 and 8. Jordan asked the committee to approve an additional $250,000 that, according to Sibley’s testimony, “could start 10 Alzheimer's support groups … extend our club memory program to 5 additional faith-based partners reaching at least 150 more seniors … [and] increase the number of weekly reassuring phone calls.”

Iona Senior Services described its dementia navigator model with a case example. CEO June Bang recounted an older resident, described in testimony as “Mrs. Woods,” whose care team used dementia navigation and advocacy to secure appropriate medical care and a skilled nursing placement; Iona said that without the program the person likely would have experienced repeated emergency department visits, shelter stays or homelessness. Bang said Iona received a $250,000 enhancement in FY25 to expand dementia navigation but warned the organization’s capacity would be reduced in FY26 if that enhancement is not continued.

Care partners and program participants offered personal accounts. Joyce A. Thompson, a care partner and dementia support associate, described Club Memory as a “hand holder” through the disease: staff made reminder calls, encouraged families to attend support groups and the program provided community connections when family networks were limited. Harold Valentine, a longtime participant, said Club Memory “feels like family” and urged expansion into Shaw and other neighborhoods where seniors currently must travel out of ward to reach services.

Sibley outlined concrete program outcomes and deliverables for additional funding: more Alzheimer’s support groups (including Spanish-speaking care partners), expanded faith-based partners, more memory screenings, volunteer training and targeted outreach to seniors living alone. Iona and other witnesses emphasized the role of dementia navigation in preventing costly downstream outcomes and urged the committee to preserve enhancements that maintain current service levels.

Ending: Committee members asked providers to submit written program details and budgets; Chairperson Bonds kept the hearing record open through June 25 and scheduled follow-up engagements with DACL and other agencies.","Sibley Memorial Hospital, Iona Senior Services and caregivers told the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor on June 11 that Club Memory and dementia navigation services must expand to meet rising local need; Sibley asked for $250,000 to add support groups and faith-based sites.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DOES lays out GrowDC workforce investments and apprenticeships; council questions paid‑leave reductions

Nonprofits and seniors urge restoration of proposed cuts to D.C. aging services at EAL budget hearing

Legal hotline for D.C. seniors at capacity as proposed attorney funding eliminated, LCE warns

Sibley and Iona press for Club Memory, dementia navigation expansion as D.C. population ages