Office of Youth Empowerment (OYE) Educational Support & Resource Development Services: Provide support for youth attending or entering adult education and post-secondary educational programs.
For details on college support services and resources, please click here.
OYE Leadership Staff:
Sarah Thankachan, OYE Administrator, Sarah.Thankachan@dc.gov (202) 442-6174 –General Older Youth Issues
Nadya Richberg, Social Work Program Manager, Nadya.richberg@dc.gov (202) 727-7376- General Older Youth Issues
Tanya Trice, Social Work Program Manager, Tanya.Trice@dc.gov (202) 727-7461- General Older Youth Issues
Office of Youth Empowerment Educational Specialist and & Resource Development Team:
Afrilasia Joseph-Phipps, Supervisory Resource/Development Specialist, afrilasia.joseph-phipps@dc.gov (202) 727-7517
Shalonda Knox, Resource Development Specialist, Shalonda.Knox@dc.gov (202) 727-7507
Kimyatta Divinity, Education Resource Specialist, kimyatta@dc.gov (202) 727-7500
Renee John, Education Resource Specialist, renee.john@dc.gov (202) 727-7500
Joelle Myers, Resource Development Specialist, Joelle.Myers@dc.gov (202) 727-7500
You can also contact:
- Your Social Worker-your social worker’s email address is usually their firstname.lastnams@dc.gov if they are from CFSA but it might be different if your case is managed by an outside agency (Lutheran Services, Boys Town, etc.). For assistance please contact OYE staff Tanya Trice or Nadya Richberg (contact information above).
- Your Guardian Ad Litem (GAL): All foster youth are assigned a GAL through the Children’s Law Center or the DC Superior Court Child Abuse and Neglect Attorney Practitioners (DC CCAN Panel)—see contact information below.
- Educational Advocate—talk with your social worker to contact your Educational Advocate
- CFSA Youth Ombudsman: “Yo BUD” If you are 14 years old and older you can contact the CFSA Youth Ombudsman when you are having issues with your placement Fasion Maxwell, Youth Ombudsman/Youth Plugs Leader, fasion.maxwell@dc.gov (202) 246-9364 or (202) 727-7324
Local Organizations
Washingtonians for Children
About: Assist foster youth with completing high school, enrolling and succeeding in college and preparing for careers. They help youth in foster care to develop their own personal brands and connect youth with life coaches.
Address: 300 New Jersey Avenue, NW, 9th Floor Washington, D.C. 20001
Bus: X1, 97
Metro: Union Station Metro (Red) & Judiciary Square (Red)
Contact: Roque Gerald (rrgerald@fedcap.org)
Phone: 202-657-4988
Legal Resources
DC Superior Court Child Abuse and Neglect Attorney Practitioners (DC CCAN)
About: Attorneys from the DC CCAN pan serve as Guardian ad Litems for youth in foster care. They advocate on behalf of the best interest of the child. They will help with an array of issues faced by youth in foster care such as placement or education. They can also be appointed “expressed interest” (the attorney will work on behalf of youths’ interests) attorney by a family court judge.
Address: DC Superior Court 500 Indiana Ave NW Room #4415, Washington, DC 20001
Bus: 13Y, D3, D6
Metro: Judiciary Square Station (Red) & Archives-Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter Station (Yellow/Green)
Contact:
Phone: (202-879-1406).
Children’s Law Center
About: CLC attorneys serve as Guardian ad Litems for youth in foster care. They advocate on behalf of the best interest of the child. They will help with an array of issues faced by youth in foster care such as placement or education.
Address: 616 H Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20001
Bus: 70, 74, 79, 80, P6, X2
Metro: Gallery Place/Chinatown (Red/Yellow/Green)
Contact: Christina Smith, Legal Director (csmith@childrenslawcenter.org)
Phone: (202) 467-4900