EPPiC Broadcast

The 21st Century Children and Family Act , recently introduced into the House of Representatives, promises to reduce "legal orphans" in the foster care system by supporting families up front and keeping them together. Can we expect to see this change succeed? This week, Michael talks with Andrew Brown, a distinguished senior fellow of child and family policy at the Texas Public Policy Fo...

The recent Virginia gubernatorial election signaled a win for parental rights, arguably on a national level. Will the growing grassroots support for parental rights continue? This week, Michael talks with Joel Grewe and Jeremiah Lorrig, director and deputy director, respectively, of Generation Joshua -- an organization dedicated to educating youth about the political process and helping them enter...

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 Profess...

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 t...

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...

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 wor...

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

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...

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...

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. H...

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 rep...

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 pa...

What is “Reasonable Childhood Independence,” and why is it so important?  This week we talk again with Lenore Skenazy, author of Free-Range Kids , and founder of the Let Grow movement. Lenore explains why it’s important for children to grow up with a healthy amount of freedom and responsibility. Plus, hear about some recent legislative wins in Texas and Oklahoma for childhood independence and pare...

As we celebrate legislative victories in Texas, Congress is set to re-authorize the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). How should this important legislation be reformed to better help parents and children?  This week, we talk with Andrew Brown, a distinguished senior fellow of child and family policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation . Andrew has advocated for parents and famili...

The Biden administration has recently proposed universal preschool for American families, but some experts are skeptical. What’s the case to be made against universal preschool?  This week, Jim talks with psychologist and Boston College research professor of psychology Dr. Peter Gray, author of the recent Psychology Today article, The Case Against Universal Preschool. Peter explains how, over time...

Guardians ad litem have great power over your family in a CPS case. But who are they?  This week, we’re talking with Joanna Woolman about guardians ad litem [GAL’s], the people responsible for representing your child’s interests in court. Joanna is an associate professor of law at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law and the executive director of the Institute to Transform Child Protection .  GAL’s...

When faced with a struggling family, bystanders can be quick to call CPS, not realizing that child protective agencies often aren't equipped to help families and rush to punish them instead.  Vivek Sankaren is working to reform this broken system and provide families with helpful, high-quality legal care in the midst of CPS cases. Vivek is a clinical professor of law at the University of Mich...

Thank you so much for listening to the EPPiC Broadcast! This week, Michael shares a brief special announcement to mark the end of Season Two and reveal exciting plans for Season Three. Plus, hear how you can help educate friends and family on parental rights issues. We’re returning on June 1st—see you then!  Support the show

Anonymous calls to report child abuse are designed to protect children, but far too often anonymous reporting is maliciously abused to harm families. What if we replaced anonymous calls with confidential reporting?  This week, Jim talks with Dale Cecka, author of “Abolish Anonymous Reporting to Child Abuse Hotlines”   and “How Child Abuse Hotlines Hurt the Very Children They’re Trying to Protect”...

Far too often, the child welfare system sends children straight to foster care, destroying innocent families and harming the very children it tries to protect. How can we prioritize preserving families and giving parents the support they need instead? This week, Jim talks with Jerry Milner, former Associate Commissioner of the Children’s Bureau in the US Department of Health and Human Services. Je...

This week, Michael talks with William Wagner, distinguished Professor Emeritus of Law at the Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, and president of Salt and Light Global . William has served as a Federal Judge in the U.S. Courts, as Legal Counsel in the U.S Senate, as Senior Assistant United States Attorney in the Department of Justice, and as a former member of the ParentalRights.org Boa...

Imagine if your 11-year-old child could receive medical procedures without your knowledge or approval. What exactly is DC Bill 23-171, the Minor Consent to Vaccination Act, and why are we so concerned with stopping this legislation?  Rolf Hazlehurst is a senior attorney with Children's Health Defense and has been actively engaged in the practice of law since 1995. This week, Rolf gives us a h...

Someone is going to make decisions for your child. Should it be you (the parent) or the government?  And what really is in the best interest of your child?  This week, Jim talks with Melissa Moschella, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the Catholic University of America, where her teaching focuses on bioethics and the moral and political status of the family. Melissa is also the author of To Wh...

This week, Jim talks with Martin Guggenheim, who has taught at the NYU School of Law for over 25 years, and is one of the foremost experts on family law and family rights today. Marty tells us about his lengthy career in the family law field, including how the current child welfare system came to be, and why it’s vitally important that parents receive legal representation in court. Marty also expl...

The Adoption and Safe Families Act imposes a 15-month deadline for families separated by the child welfare system to reunify. In the age of COVID, many families are torn apart because of governmental delays they can’t control. What can we do to stop this unjust timetable? This week, Jim talks with Chris Gottlieb, Co-Director of New York University School of Law Family Defense Clinic and a key play...