Child Health Advocacy + Policy

Is artificial intelligence reshaping how children think? Heidi Russell speaks with Moshe Y. Vardi about the developmental implications of synthetic interaction and how new Texas laws, including the Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act (TRAIGA), are attempting to govern the frontier of artificial intelligence for the next generation. This conversation was recorded on May 28, 202...

FEMA’s new draft maps show a 43% expansion of the 100-year floodplain in Harris County. How will this affect the nearly 90 HISD schools now located in higher-risk zones? Edward M. Emmett and Bill King join Heidi Russell to explore the policy implications for Houston’s schools and the approaches under consideration to improve long-term resilience. This conversation was recorded on May 27, 2026. Lis...

Texas poison center calls are at a 10-year high due to hemp-derived THC products. Heidi Russell speaks with drug policy expert Katharine Harris about the “hemp frontier” and the legislative approaches being considered to address youth exposure to psychoactive substances and deceptive packaging. This conversation was recorded on May 11, 2026. Listen and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform....

Heidi Russell speaks with Charles W. Mathias about the link between pediatric nutrition and healthcare financing. The conversation explores how better alignment between Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC could improve health outcomes and reduce long-term costs for the state of Texas. This conversation was recorded on May 4, 2026. Listen and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. Mentioned in this epis...

Texas has invested $200 million in the Thriving Texas Families program, but what has that investment delivered? Heidi Russell speaks with Elena M. Marks and Anna Chatillon about their evaluation of the program’s transition from the Alternatives to Abortion model and how its funding structure prioritizes non-medical services over clinical care. This conversation was recorded on April 23, 2026. List...

Are we waiting too long to address children’s mental health? Heidi Russell speaks with Quianta Moore, executive director of the Hackett Center for Mental Health, about the policy shifts needed to prioritize prevention and early childhood development over crisis response. This conversation was recorded on April 21, 2026. Listen and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. Learn about the “Chil...

How do parents and educators distinguish scientific fact from viral fiction? Heidi Russell speaks with Kirstin R.W. Matthews , fellow in science and technology policy, about the challenges of navigating an era of information overload and the importance of scientific literacy for families. This conversation was recorded on April 20, 2026. Listen and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. Men...

When families send children to school, physical safety is the baseline expectation. Heidi Russell speaks with Zoabe Hafeez , a hospital pediatrician and Baker Institute nonresident fellow, to unpack how school safety policies translate to clinical realities and everyday life for students. This conversation was recorded on March 23, 2026. Listen and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. Lea...

As debates over childhood nutrition, physical activity, and school health policy intensify nationwide, new federal initiatives are reshaping conversations about children’s well-being in schools. In this episode of “Child Health Advocacy + Policy” from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, Heidi Russell speaks with Christopher Kulesza about how the “Make America Healthy Again” moveme...

A movement called “Make America Healthy Again” is gaining attention, but what does it mean for children’s health, and who gets to decide? As rising rates of chronic illness and new debates challenge long-held assumptions about what keeps children healthy, this episode examines what this moment means for families trying to make sense of it all. Host Heidi Russell, director of the Center for Health...

Vaccines are among the most effective tools for protecting children from preventable diseases, yet misinformation and policy gaps are shaping the conversation across the United States. Heidi Russell , director of the Center for Health Policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute, speaks with Peter Hotez , codirector of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, and Rekha Lakshman...