By AEI Podcasts
4.5
2727 ratings
The podcast currently has 106 episodes available.
The country’s youth mental health crisis continues to increase demand for psychiatric beds. Yet, the availability of residential treatment facilities, reserved for youth with severe emotional disturbances, is on the decline. What impact does this have on youth—including those in foster care--with high levels of need, and how do we ensure access to treatment for the children who need it most?
This week, Naomi and Ian are joined by Scott Dziengelski, a consultant at King and Spalding LLP and former director of policy and regulatory affairs at the National Association for Behavioral Healthcare, to discuss his recent report, “Deinstitutionalization Redux: The Decline in Residential Mental Health Treatment for Youth.” The report highlights the concerning shortage of residential treatment facilities and bed space for youth who need care. In this episode, Scott explains the current move toward deinstitutionalization, the effect of negative media messaging around residential treatment centers, and the crucial policy and cultural changes needed to ensure youth with severe challenges receive the care they need.
Resources
-Deinstitutionalization Redux: The Decline in Residential Mental Health Treatment for Youth | Scott Dziengelski
-How Foster Kids Are Being Damaged by a Lack of Home Care Facilities | Naomi Schaefer Riley
-Why Foster Children Are Sleeping in Offices and What We Can Do About It | Sean Hughes et al.
Show Notes
-00:58 | How did you get involved in children’s mental health policy?
-02:20 | What does the spectrum of need look like for children’s mental health, and which children are served by residential treatment facilities?
-05:26 | How do you interpret the data around the rise in children’s mental health challenges?
-07:34 | What led to the decrease in availability of residential treatment facilities?
-10:34 | Why are people advocating for the deinstitutionalization of residential treatment facilities?
-13:23 | Two congressional hearings on residential treatment recently took place. What impact will these have on the availability of residential treatment?
-16:55 | How does tying educational funds to children help when residential treatment is needed?
-21:18 | What is your recommendation on Medicaid dollars following children in care? How do we shift the narrative on residential treatment facilities?
-25:37 | Which states are doing the best in regard to residential treatment facilities?
The dramatic rise in substance use disorders over the past decade has altered—indeed, destroyed—many American lives, but how does this epidemic affect children? And who is ensuring their safety?
This week, Naomi and Ian are joined by Sarah Font, child welfare researcher and associate professor of sociology and public policy at Penn State, to discuss a recent published statement Sarah wrote on behalf of AEI’s child welfare working group. “The US Is Failing Substance-Exposed Infants” critiques policies which limit Child Protective Services’ responsibility to aid substance-exposed infants, and how voluntary “Plans of Safe Care” put in place by some states are insufficient to address the dilemma. In this episode, Sarah details the effects of drug exposure in infants, whether and how positive toxicology screens in new mothers and infants are reported, and what practices in medicine and child protection need to change in order to prioritize the well-being of children.
Resources
-The US Is Failing Substance-Exposed Infants | Sarah Font et al.
-The US Is Failing Infants Exposed to Drugs and Alcohol | Naomi Schaefer Riley and Sarah Font
Show Notes
-0:01:00 | How should we understand drug exposure among infants?
-0:01:34 | What are the dangers to children of substance exposure in utero and when a child is under the supervision of parents who are addicted?
-0:03:28 | Why is there a reduction in foster care placements when there is an increase in reported abuse?
-0:04:44 | What are plans of safe care intended to accomplish?
-0:06:29 | What was the rationale behind Mass General Brigham’s new policy on substance abuse reporting?
-0:09:16 | How have we lost our focus regarding the effects of drug policy on children?
-0:11:44 | Is the normalization of drug use working as a gateway to children’s drug exposure?
-0:13:34 | What are some policy changes that should be considered by states and medical institutions?
-0:16:11 | What states or localities can we point to as models for others to follow?
-0:16:57 | What happens when hospitals contact CPS?
-0:19:00 | What prevention strategies exist?
How has the Supreme Court’s decision on Dobbs v. Jackson affected foster care and adoption in the United States during the past two years?
This week, Naomi and Ian are joined by Herbie Newell, President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services, one of the largest adoption agencies in the United States. Herbie discusses how the recent limits on abortion access in some states have impacted adoption agencies. He highlights the cultural shifts that have emerged since the Dobbs decision, including the decreased stigma surrounding adoption. He also addresses the slight increase in foster care numbers following the ruling, and how to interpret it, as well as how we can create a more positive outlook on adoption as an option for mothers, fathers, and children in the United States.
Resources
-Doing Adoption the “Right” Way Can Work for Everyone Involved | Naomi Schaefer Riley
-Elizabeth Kirk on Adoption Post Dobbs | Naomi Schaefer Riley | Ian Rowe
-What is it Like to Place Your Child For Adoption | Naomi Schaefer Riley | Timothy P. Carney
Show Notes
-0:00:57 | How has the atmosphere around adoption changed post Dobbs?
-0:03:59 | How has the view of adoption shifted in the pro-life community?
-0:06:31 | Has there been an increase in foster care post-Dobbs?
-0:09:44 | How should we think about adoption as an option for mothers and how can we reduce the stigma women choosing adoption face?
-0:13:20 | What pressures might women feel in the adoption process? How do we address them?
-0:18:23 | Does adoption stigma drive single-mother households? How do we better involve men throughout the adoption process?
The steep increase in mental health challenges among young children is one of today’s most widely discussed issues. But why is so little attention paid to the role of family dynamics in creating or reducing stress for kids?
This week, Ian and Naomi are joined by Dr. Nicholas Zill, research psychologist and senior fellow at the Institute for Family Studies, to discuss his most recent report, “Families Matter to Kids’ Mental Health.” In the report, Dr. Zill analyzes data from the National Survey on Children’s Health to demonstrate how family structure affects not only the likelihood children will need mental health services, but also whether they will receive them. He points out a number of striking findings, including how foster children are the group most likely to be using medication to treat mental health problems. Dr. Zill emphasizes how understanding a child’s family structure is vital to treating their mental health, and how other methods of combatting mental illness beyond medication should be employed as well.
Resources
-Families Matter to Kids’ Mental Health | Nicholas Zill
-Why Foster Kids Aren’t Getting the Mental Health Care They Need | Naomi Schaefer Riley
Show Notes
-00:44 | Why does family structure get missed in the conversation about kids’ mental health?
-08:25 | Why does the gap between the need and receipt of mental health services come from? How can we close that gap?
-11:48 | How do we share this data without seeming like we are blaming families for their impact on a child’s mental health?
-13:08 | How do we make sure we are talking about the youth mental health crisis in an accurate, right-sized way?
-16:46 | Do younger generations having different attitudes toward marriage and forming families?
-18:29 | What is the good news on this issue?
-21:23 | How can we encourage reporting of data on family structure?
Conventional wisdom suggests that developing a child’s intellect is the job of schools, but parents spend far more time with their kids than teachers do. There is a lot that parents can and should do on this front.
This week, Naomi is joined by Eva Moskowitz, founder and CEO of Success Academy Charter Schools in New York City, and author of the recent book, A+ Parenting: The Surprisingly Fun Guide to Raising Surprisingly Smart Kids. Eva discusses how many parents feel an obligation to come down to their child’s level when it comes to speech or play, but in fact, their child may benefit more from being included in the complex or stimulating discussions and activities that parents are already enjoying. From movies, to games, to music played in the car, Eva has curated a list of materials and activities that are both age-appropriate and intellectually challenging for kids. What is important, Eva argues, is for parents to enjoy time with their kids, as this creates greater satisfaction for children, too.
Resources
-A+ Parenting: The Surprisingly Fun Guide to Raising Surprisingly Smart Kids | Eva Moskowitz
-Teach Your Children Well | Naomi Schaefer Riley
Show Notes
-00:55 | What inspired you to write this book?
-03:27 | How should parents work to develop their child’s intellect differently than schools?
-06:16 | How does this guidance translate across class divides? Are you hoping to bridge the gap between parents who are familiar with these cultural staples and those who aren’t?
-09:57 | Why does the specific book a child reads matter beyond just the fact that they are reading at all?
-11:59 | Can you give an example of the type of movie that is worthwhile for kids to watch, and why?
-15:46 | How do you know when these activities are appropriate, or if too much is going over the child’s head?
-18:08 | What are your thoughts on the impact of cellphones and social media on children’s intellectual development?
-21:08 | How can we engage in parenting in a way that helps us find more of the joy in the process?
Why do some members of the “elite class”—those who are educated, wealthy, and largely raised in stable, two-parent homes—publicly advocate for harmful beliefs while not subscribing to them in their private lives?
This week marks Are You Kidding Me?’s 100th episode! For this special episode, Naomi and Ian are joined by Rob Henderson, psychologist and author of the recent book Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class. Having experienced an unstable childhood in the foster care system before then enlisting in the military and going on to complete a PhD in psychology, Rob observed a phenomenon among American elites he eventually coined as “luxury beliefs.” Luxury beliefs are held ideas that confer status to the wealthy while inflicting harm on the poor and working class. Rob discusses where he believes this phenomenon originated, the practical impact it has for low-income communities, and how he tries to reverse the trend through sharing data and encouraging people to think more deeply about the ideas they are espousing.
Resources
Show Notes
01:05 | Can you talk about your background with the foster care system, and what the biggest influence in your early years was on your thinking later in life?
02:59 | What was the pivot for you that allowed you to find success and eventually write your book?
09:56 | Why are members of the “elite class” so predisposed to express certain beliefs in public but not hold to them in their private lives?
15:04 | How does the act of holding luxury beliefs by the elite class impact members of the working class?
18:45 | Can you talk about the luxury belief dynamic as it plays out with drug use, and how is that dynamic playing out in families?
23:52 | Are you finding that some of the ideas you express in your book are being made by others into their own kinds of luxury beliefs?
26:57 | How do we confront luxury beliefs in such a way that we can reverse the impact they are having on low income communities?
The “Success Sequence” refers to a series of steps—graduating high school, working full-time, and marrying before having children—that are shown to dramatically decrease one’s likelihood of living in poverty. But what happens if, for a variety of reasons, these steps are completed out of order?
In this episode, Naomi and Ian are joined by Angela Rachidi, a senior fellow at AEI focusing on poverty and the effects of federal safety-net programs on low-income individuals and families. Angela discusses her recent report, which examines how completing certain “success sequence” steps (namely, graduating high school, finding full-time work, and getting married) can impact poverty rates for unmarried mothers. Angela explains the immense economic burden and reduced odds of escaping poverty faced by those who have children before marriage or completing their education, especially when the mother is not working toward those critical life milestones. However, her findings indicate that for these young parents, education and marriage in particular have an immensely positive impact, even if these milestones are achieved after having a child. Naomi, Ian, and Angela conclude by discussing how policymakers and community leaders can better encourage and reinforce the value of the completing the steps of the “success sequence” among American youth and adults, even when life does not go exactly as planned.
Resources
-Dynamics of Families After a Nonmarital Birth | Angela Rachidi
-The Success Sequence for Unmarried Mothers | Angela Rachidi
Show Notes
-0:00:44 | Why did you decide to study this particular population?
-0:03:12 | Can you talk about the “Fragile Families” dataset that you used for this report?
-0:05:08 | What were your findings for these women?
-0:12:34 | Can you isolate marriage in correlation with reducing poverty?
-0:14:29 | Can you talk about the role of multi-partner fertility?
-0:16:48 | How should we share this information with young women in these situations?
0:18:53 | What role do you think personal faith commitment plays into all of this?
Why are Americans having fewer children? And why do younger Americans seem resistant to the idea of having children at all?
In this episode, Naomi and Ian are joined by Tim Carney, a senior fellow at AEI focusing on family, religion, and civil society in America. Tim discusses his upcoming book, “Family Unfriendly: How Our Culture Made Raising Kids Much Harder than It Needs to Be.” Tim unpacks all the ways parenting has become harder--from the expectation that parents must provide children with every extracurricular opportunity, to the collapse of marriage and the lack of neighborhoods where kids can walk places. He also argues for a return to the idea that children are inherently valuable—not just vehicles for accomplishments. To conclude, Tim makes recommendations for how coaches, local legislators, educators, and parents can encourage younger people to prioritize getting married and starting a family as they are building their lives.
Resources
Family Unfriendly: How Our Culture Made Raising Kids Much Harder Than It Needs to Be | Tim Carney
Civilizational Sadness: We Are Becoming Sad and Afraid, and So We Are Making Fewer Babies | Tim Carney
Show Notes
- 0:00:45 | What prompted you to write the book?
- 0:04:21 | Are there any ways we can make culture more family-friendly through public policy?
- 0:06:56 | What makes you different that allows you to see the problems here? What can we do to cultivate more individuals who value family and children?
- 0:09:35 | Do you need an underlying religious belief in order to see family differently?
- 0:13:52 | How is all of this affecting the trend of young people who are delaying marriage?
- 0:23:00 | How can we use research like Raj Chetty’s around upward mobility to strengthen the case for families?
New York City public schools have long struggled with abysmally low literacy rates among their students. Will adopting a more evidence-based reading curriculum be enough to create improvement?
This week, Naomi and Ian are joined by Robert Pondiscio, Senior Fellow at AEI and scholar of K-12 education, to discuss the science of reading. A former 5th grade teacher himself, Robert recounts his experience with the whole language curriculum in New York City schools, memorably dubbed “vibes-based” literacy by the New York. It centers a student’s interest in reading over the building blocks of literacy themselves. Robert discusses a recent announcement that New York schools would be switching to one of three new scientifically-backed reading programs, explaining both the hope and potential challenges that come with adopting the new framework.
Resources
- Getting Reading Right | Robert Pondiscio
- What Do Parents Need to Know About the Science of Reading? | Robert Pondiscio
Show Notes
0:01:00 | What is the science of reading and why should we be glad education leaders are embracing it?
0:04:03 | What have teachers been taught about literacy in the past, and what is the truth being rediscovered now?
0:08:57 | How difficult will it be to re-train teachers on these new curricula?
0:11:30 | How can we help teachers understand that knowledge-building must be a part of teaching reading?
0:16:21 | Can anything be done for students who have already missed the early years of proper literacy teaching?
0:19:37 | How long will it take to start seeing improvement in test scores and performance?
0:28:59 | Do you have hopes for the introduction of AI into teaching and education?
How can we ensure young Americans understand civics? Our K-12 schools have seen a significant loss in the both the quality and quantity of history and civics requirements. Is there any way reverse this trend?
In this episode, Naomi and Ian are joined by Chris Sinacola, director of communications and media relations at Pioneer Institute and co-editor of Restoring the City on a Hill: U.S. History & Civics in America’s Schools. Chris discusses his new book and outlines what is behind the steady decline of history and civics education, what testing standards and results indicate about the quality of civics education in schools, the importance of connecting students with the roots of the American nation, and what it will take to preserve American tradition and history. Chris also mentions that although some of the data looks bleak, there are upward trends and ways that parents have been mobilizing to protect and improve their children’s education.
Resources
Show Notes
The podcast currently has 106 episodes available.
574 Listeners
2,197 Listeners
674 Listeners
4,501 Listeners
4,507 Listeners
6,174 Listeners
567 Listeners
3,580 Listeners
2,979 Listeners
2,204 Listeners
11,433 Listeners
682 Listeners
300 Listeners
157 Listeners