EPPiC Broadcast

Latest Episodes:

Special Update Oct 26, 2021

Show notes

The EPPiC Broadcast is taking an official, two-week hiatus. We’ll be back with more great content on November 11th. Coming up, we’re going to be talking with Shanta Trivedi, Assistant Professor of Law and the Director of the Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Family, Children and the Courts, at the Baltimore University School of Law.
Another upcoming guest is Dr. Jessica Pryce, Assistant Professor in the College of Social Work at Florida State University and the Executive Director of The Florida Institute for Child Welfare.
In the meantime, you can find our back catalog of episodes at parentalrightsfoundation.org/podcast, and our facebook page at facebook.com/eppicbroadcast. Thank you for listening to the EPPiC Broadcast. We truly appreciate your support. Once again, we will return on November 11th!

Support the show

What Will It Take to Reunite Families?, with Martin Guggenheim Oct 05, 2021

Show notes

The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) was passed in 1997 to keep children from languishing in foster care, but today this law gives state agencies a cash bonus for breaking up families. How did we get here, and what can we do to give families that encounter social services a fighting chance to stay together?

This week, we talk again with Dr. Martin Guggenheim of the NYU School of Law. Marty tells us about how ASFA creates a ticking clock for families caught in the CPS system, and how he’s working to help reform this law. He also explains why it is usually in the best interest of children to reunite with their parents, rather than finding permanency in foster care.

Support the show

The Problem with ASFA, with Jerry Milner Sep 21, 2021

Show notes

This week, Jim talks again with Jerry Milner, former Associate Commissioner of the Children’s Bureau in the US Department of Health and Human Services. Jerry now works with Family Integrity & Justice Works. Jerry explains why the Adoption and Safe Families Act, created in the 1980s, needs to be reformed to preserve families, rather than splitting them up unnecessarily. He also tells us about the harms that the current mandatory reporting system causes, and what can be done to better protect children without removing them from their families.

Support the show

A Pandemic of Child Abuse?, with Anna Arons Sep 14, 2021

Show notes

In March 2020, we heard ominous warnings of ‘pandemic of child abuse’ accompanying the COVID-19 shut downs. Children went home, away from the watchful eyes of mandated reporters, and back to their families.

But did cases of child abuse actually increase during the added stress of the pandemic?

This week, Jim sits down with Anna Arons, a professor at the NYU School of Law. Anna has previously worked as a family defender at the Neighborhood Defender Services of Harlem, representing parents in child welfare cases.

Anna explains what actually happened in New York’s child protection agency during the pandemic and why the alarm about spiking child abuse during the pandemic has largely dissolved.

Read more about Anna’s research in her recent law review article (https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=38152170).

Support the show

Passing the Parents’ Bill of Rights, with Rep. Erin Grall Sep 07, 2021

Show notes

This week, Jim sits down with Florida State Rep. Erin Grall, sponsor and architect of the recently passed Florida Parents’ Bill of Rights. Erin tells us about the long road to this historic victory for Florida parents, and how grassroots involvement from local parents helped the bill gain traction. Plus, hear about how this bill can help parents and families in other states.

Support the show

A Bill of Rights for Parents, with Patti Sullivan Aug 31, 2021

Show notes

Florida parents are celebrating a historic victory - the successful passage of a Parents' Bill of Rights in their state.

This week, Michael talks with Patti Sullivan, ParentalRights.org's Florida State Coordinator, and a long-time advocate for families and parental rights. Patti was deeply involved with the passage of this bill, and she explains how this bill was passed, how it will help families in Florida and across the nation, and the opposition the bill faced.

Learn more about Patti’s work at these resources, mentioned on the program:

ParentalRightsFL.org
Parental Rights Florida Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/parentalrightsFL)

Support the show

Standing up for Parents in Family Court, with Judge Ernestine Gray Aug 24, 2021

Show notes

During her time as a family court judge, foster care rates in her city dropped to just 10% of the national average. How did she do it?

This week, Michael talks with former judge Ernestine Gray, who served for 35 years in the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court in Louisiana. Judge Gray explains how she prioritized preserving families and parent-child relationships in her court, and how she helped parents find community resources and support, rather than immediately revoking their rights.

Support the show

Keeping Politics Out of the Classroom, with Michael Farris Jul 27, 2021

Show notes

Parental rights and religious liberties are being increasingly threatened by radicalized school curricula. What can we do about it?

This week, ParentalRights.org founder and Alliance Defending Freedom CEO Michael Farris returns to the EPPiC Broadcast. Michael explains why these new curricula are harmful to children and even unconstitutional, and what Alliance Defending Freedom is doing about it. Hear about ADF’s ongoing case representing Tanner Cross, the Virginia PE Teacher who was suspended for objecting to controversial new school policies.

Support the show

Pursuing Respect and Justice, with David Kelly Jul 20, 2021

Show notes

How can we build a child welfare system that treats families with respect and justice?

This week we talk with David Kelly, former Special Assistant at the Children’s Bureau in the US Department of Health and Human Services. David tells us about his work, and explains why our child welfare system needs a complete overhaul to truly support families, from providing better support and services to replacing laws like CAPTA and ASFA.

Support the show

Homeschooling Growth During COVID, with Steven Duvall Jul 06, 2021

Show notes

How has the pandemic affected education, including parental rights and homeschooling issues?

This week we talk with Dr. Steven Duvall, Director of Research at the Home School Legal Defense Association, and former public-school psychologist and university professor. Dr. Duvall unpacks some shifting trends in the education world, including some recent data on the increase in homeschooling in the past year, and why that’s good news for the rights of all parents.

Support the show

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected