The 2026 Health Policy Camp (HPC) recently concluded its two-week hybrid experience, bringing together a powerful coalition of caregivers, youth, and community advocates to strengthen leadership, deepen policy knowledge, and advance disability justice across Washington, DC. Hosted by Advocates for Justice and Education (AJE), the camp created a collaborative space where lived experiences, policy expertise, and community vision came together to spark new ideas and shape meaningful change.

Here are the highlights from each of our seven impactful events:

Building Advocacy Power: Political Determinants of Health and Multi-Generational Leadership – Tuesday, July 14, 2026

The camp kicked off with a panel on the political determinants of health and multi-generational leadership. The discussion focused on the power of collective advocacy and the need for systems that support the full lives of people with disabilities and their families. Through conversations on disability justice, education access, healthcare navigation, and family well-being, panelists Rhonda White and Andrea Trujillo underscored that meaningful change requires collaboration across generations and sectors. A key theme of the conversation was the critical connection between caregiver well-being and child outcomes. Both speakers highlighted that a caregiver’s emotional, physical, and financial well-being directly influences a child’s ability to thrive. Panelists emphasized that supporting families requires more than addressing individual challenges, it requires creating accessible, responsive systems for caregivers and children.

A big thank you to our speakers for sharing their expertise and insights: 

• Rhonda White, Family & Community Engagement Liaison, Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities
• Andrea Trujillo, Special Education Educator and EmpowerEd Member

Navigating Education and Healthcare Systems: Protecting Access, Attendance, and Student Success – Thursday, July 16, 2026

The first workshop provided an overview of the DC Department of Health Care Finance’s pediatric Medicaid programs, with a focus on  DC’s early, periodic, screening, diagnosis, and treatment (EPSDT) program updates, including extended reimbursement timelines resulting from the Salazar settlement. The second workshop explained how DC’s education and healthcare systems work together to support children and youth with disabilities and special health care needs. It provides an overview of key laws and supports, including IDEA, Section 504, Child Find, IEPs, 504 Plans, attendance policies, and school health services, while addressing common challenges families face navigating both systems. The presentation emphasizes family advocacy, coordinated care, and available resources to help children access the services and supports they need for educational success.

A big thank you to our speakers for sharing their expertise and insights: 

• Colleen Sonosky, Associate Director of the Division of Children’s Health Services in the Health Care Delivery Management Administration in the District of Columbia’s Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF)
• Maria Blaeuer, Director of Programs and Outreach, Advocates for Justice and Education, Inc.
• Danielle Robinette, Senior Policy Attorney, Children’s Law Center

Youth Safety, Security, and Thriving: Reimagining the Transition to Adulthood – Friday, July 17, 2026

The Community Health Advisory Panel meeting focused on the transition to adulthood, for youth with disabilities and special health care needs, examining the “service cliff” that occurs as young people move from the coordinated supports of the school system to fragmented adult service systems. Panelists highlighted persistent gaps across healthcare, education, behavioral health, disability services, workforce development, and housing, underscoring the need for stronger cross-system coordination, earlier and more intentional transition planning, person-centered supports, and improved care navigation for families. The discussion also emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration between the Department of Behavioral Health and the Department of Disability Services to prevent families from falling through service gaps, while promoting early career development, beginning at age 14, and building lifelong self-advocacy skills to support successful transitions into adulthood.

A big thank you to our speakers for sharing their expertise and insights: 

• Adrienne Smith, AJE Parent Ambassador
• Tiffany Yuille, Special Projects Coordinator, Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities
• Raissa Batchankwe, Chief Operating Officer, Mercyland Healthcare Inc. (MHI)
• Richard Ewane, Program and Operations Coordinator, Mercyland Healthcare Inc. (MHI)

Parent Cafe: Together We Thrive – Saturday, July 18, 2026

The first week of the Health Policy Camp concluded with an in-person Parent Café, where families gathered to reflect and build collective solutions. Grounded in the 5 protective factors (Parental Resilience, Social Connections, Knowledge of Parenting & Child Development, Concrete Support in Times of Need, Social & Emotional Competence of Children), this session created a space for mutual support and action, reinforcing the idea that when families advocate together, the entire community thrives.

Stories That Move Us: An Advocate Angels Production and Community Conversation – Monday, July 20, 2026

Creativity took center stage with a reading of Advocate Angels, an original play written and directed by Whitney “Not Houston” Sellers. The play followed three secret agent “FAPE heroes”—Justice, Equality, and Empower—as they fought to save disappearing IEPs from the villainous Crime Brothers. This showcase brought special education advocacy to life through storytelling, followed by a community conversation on wealth-building by DC Community Wealth Builders.

A big thank you to our speakers for sharing their expertise and insights: 

• Advocate Angels Cast and Crew
• DC Community Wealth Builders

From Policy to Power: Understanding Change and Influencing Decisions – Tuesday, July 21, 2026

This session unpacked the DC budget and legislative process, explaining how local laws are developed and implemented. Panelists discussed the rollback of health insurance coverage gains since January 2025, particularly changes to the Alliance program and Medicaid eligibility for low-income residents, as well as ongoing challenges within the behavioral health system. The discussion also examined the importance of protecting and strengthening DC’s Paid Family Leave program, highlighting recent benefit reductions, the need for sustainable funding, and the role of paid leave in supporting caregivers and family well-being. Throughout the session, panelists emphasized the need for stronger investments, cross-system coordination, accessible communication, and family storytelling to advance equitable policies and improve outcomes for children and families.

A big thank you to our speakers for sharing their expertise and insights: 

• Patricia Quinn, Senior Director of Government Affairs and Policy,  DC Primary Care Association
• Mark Levota, Executive Director, District of Columbia Behavioral Health Association
• Jennie Saldana, D.C. Outreach Coordinator, First Shift Justice Project
• Sandra Cuesta, Student Services Coordinator, Briya Public Charter School 

Family Action Plans: Turning Advocacy into Action – Thursday, July 23, 2026

In our final workshop, families learned to translate lived experiences into meaningful advocacy. Dara Gold shared practical strategies for navigating the healthcare and education systems, covering care coordination, special education rights, and school attendance advocacy, while Chrysanthe Courniotes brought these concepts to life by sharing her personal journey navigating complex systems as a parent. Victoria Lynn reframed postpartum well-being as a lifelong journey, emphasizing the importance of “deep care” through strong community supports and systemic solutions rather than individual self-care alone. Ni’Aisha Banks concluded the session by underscoring the critical role of early identification, comprehensive evaluations, and timely intervention in ensuring children receive the services and supports they need to thrive.

A big thank you to our speakers for sharing their expertise and insights: 

• Dara Gold, Staff Attorney, Advocates for Justice and Education, Inc. 
• Chrysanthe Courniotes, AJE Parent Ambassador, Health Policy and Advocacy Leader
• Victoria Lynn, AJE Parent Ambassador, Postpartum Doula, Nutrition Specialist, and Maternal Wellness Advocate,
• Ni’Aisha Banks, AJE Parent Ambassador, Education Policy Professional, and Graduate Researcher at American University 

Note of Gratitude

A special note of gratitude to Daniela Gonzales-Rious, whose extraordinary dedication brought the 2026 Health Policy Camp to life. For the second consecutive year, your leadership and continued efforts have made this year’s camp another impactful experience. We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to Chioma Oruh, Health Justice Project Director at AJE; Amilcar Hudson, Parent Organizer at AJE; and the dedicated AJE team members who supported this camp, whose collaboration, expertise, and support were instrumental to the success of the 2026 Health Policy Camp!

Keep the Momentum Going! 

The 2026 Health Policy Camp may be over, but the movement continues. We encourage all participants to:

• Share your story: Participate in the “My Child Find“ campaign to help others understand families’ experiences navigating early identification and special education services.
• Access Resources: Review the presentation slides and one-pagers available in the camp’s LiveBinder.
• Stay Connected: For inquiries or to join future advocacy efforts, email advocacy@aje-dc.org.