In this episode, Joyce McMillan, founder and executive director of Just Making a Change for Families and a member of the Parental Rights Foundation Board of Advisors, joins us to discuss her recent article “Common Sense Guardrails for CPS,” featured in The State of Parental Rights in America. Drawing from her work with families impacted by the child welfare system, Joyce argues that Child Protective Services often functions less like a helping profession and more like an investigative and prosecutorial agency. She explains how poverty is frequently confused with neglect and how families can become trapped in cycles of surveillance and punishment. 

Joyce also discusses the Parent Legislative Action Network (PLAN) and several reform efforts advancing in New York and beyond, including the Anti-Harassment in Reporting Act and proposals aimed at strengthening due process protections for parents. The conversation explores issues surrounding CPS registries, emergency removals, visitation barriers, and the importance of educating families about their constitutional rights. Throughout the episode, Joyce encourages listeners to learn directly from families with lived experience in the system and to recognize how these policies affect communities across the country.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, President of the Parental Rights Foundation. Stay informed on parental rights news by signing up for email alerts at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

JMAC for Families: jmacforfamilies.org

ProPublica article: “New York Bans Anonymous Child Welfare Reports” 

The State of Parental Rights in America

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In this episode, Allison Green, Chief Legal Officer at the National Association of Counsel for Children, and Natalece Washington, Policy Counsel at NACC, join us to discuss the Counsel for Kids Campaign and the effort to guarantee legal representation for children in foster care. They explain the current gap in access to counsel across states and make the case for why children, like parents, should have representation in proceedings that deeply impact their lives and family relationships. They highlight how legal advocacy for children can improve outcomes, including faster reunification, fewer placement disruptions, and greater stability.

Allison and Natalece also explore how children’s attorneys function within the courtroom, the distinction between best interest and stated interest models of representation, and how these approaches affect both children and parents. The conversation touches on the challenges families face in navigating the child welfare system, the importance of accountability in service provision, and the growing momentum among states to expand access to counsel for children. They also discuss ongoing federal efforts and what the future may hold for ensuring every child’s voice is heard in court.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, President of the Parental Rights Foundation. Stay informed on parental rights news by signing up for email alerts at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/. 

Resources Mentioned:

• NACC Model of Representation Chart 
• Daily Caller Article by Allison Green: Victory For Kids And Fiscal Responsibility Hiding In Plain Sight

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In this episode, Layal Bou Harfouch, drug policy analyst at Reason Foundation and doctoral student at the University of Oxford, joins us to discuss her recent article examining the relationship between substance use and child welfare policy. Drawing on her background in addiction medicine and research, she explains how substance use is often treated as automatic evidence of risk, even though it is only one factor among many. It is often connected to broader challenges like poverty, housing instability, and limited access to care.

Layal unpacks several common myths that shape current policy, including the assumptions that all parental drug use is inherently dangerous, that people who use drugs are unfit parents, and that increased reporting or stigma improves outcomes for children. The conversation also explores how automatic reporting and drug testing practices influence when families come into contact with the system. It raises important questions about how risk is defined and how decisions are made in child welfare cases.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, President of the Parental Rights Foundation. Stay informed on parental rights news by signing up for email alerts at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/. 

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In this episode, Alex Cinney, Staff Attorney at the American Bar Association’s Center on Children and the Law, and Toia Potts, a family advocate and co-founder of Carolina Parent Defenders, join us to discuss the realities and consequences of Termination of Parental Rights (TPR). Drawing on both legal expertise and lived experience, they examine how TPR functions within the child welfare system and what it means for families across the country.

Alex explains how TPR permanently severs the legal relationship between parents and children, often without the level of scrutiny given to other life-altering legal decisions. Toia shares her personal story of being wrongfully accused, fully exonerated, and still losing her parental rights, highlighting the lasting impact on her children, extended family, and cultural identity. Together, they challenge common assumptions about “permanency,” emphasizing the difference between legal stability and the relational connections children need to thrive. They also explore alternatives such as guardianship and kinship care, and discuss ongoing efforts to reduce unnecessary terminations and preserve family integrity.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, President of the Parental Rights Foundation. Stay informed on parental rights news by signing up for email alerts at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/. 

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In this episode, David Kelly, Co-Director of the Family Justice Group and former Senior Policy Advisor at the U.S. Children’s Bureau, joins us to reflect on his time in federal service and discuss the future of child welfare policy. Drawing on years of experience working alongside families, advocates, and policymakers, David shares insights into the importance of prioritizing family preservation, strengthening communities, and ensuring that systems meant to help families remain grounded in their real needs and experiences.

David highlights the work of the Family Justice Group through on-the-ground efforts in communities like Flint, Michigan, where local initiatives are addressing isolation and practical needs facing families. He also discusses the Family Justice Journal, which brings attention to innovative approaches that often go unrecognized. Throughout the conversation, he challenges the status quo in child welfare and emphasizes the need to focus on relationships and real-world support for families.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, President of the Parental Rights Foundation. Stay informed on parental rights news by signing up for email alerts at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/. 

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In this episode, William Wagner, constitutional legal scholar and newly appointed Chairman of the Board at the Parental Rights Foundation, joins us to reflect on this leadership transition and the future of the organization. Wagner shares his appreciation for outgoing Chairman Jim Mason and discusses the Foundation’s growth from its early connection with the Home School Legal Defense Association to becoming a fully independent organization.

Looking ahead, Wagner outlines his vision for advancing parental rights as a fundamental liberty, including strengthening protections at both the state and national level. Drawing on his experience as a homeschool parent, attorney, and public servant, he emphasizes the importance of equipping parents, educating policymakers, and building momentum around parental rights as a bipartisan issue. He closes with a message of encouragement, reminding parents that they are not alone and that there is growing support for their role in raising and guiding their children.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, President of the Parental Rights Foundation. Stay informed on parental rights news by signing up for email alerts at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/

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In this episode, Sharon Balmer Cartagena, Directing Attorney of Public Counsel’s Child, Youth & Family Advocacy Project in California, joins us to discuss innovative efforts to support families earlier in the child welfare process. Drawing on her work with the Keeping Families Together Project in Los Angeles County, she explains how expanding access to support and legal counsel can help bridge communication gaps, connect families to resources, and prevent unnecessary system involvement.

Sharon shares early results from the program and what they suggest about the impact of timely support. She also explores broader challenges within the child welfare system, including mandated reporting laws, definitions of neglect, and the high rate of unsubstantiated investigations. Sharon discusses ongoing reform efforts and the importance of keeping families connected whenever safely possible, as well as why increasing access to support services could benefit not only families, but agencies as well.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, President of the Parental Rights Foundation. Stay informed on parental rights news by signing up for email alerts at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/

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In this episode, Will Estrada, Esq., Senior Counsel at the Home School Legal Defense Association, joins us to discuss recent legislative efforts impacting homeschool families across the country. Focusing on two contrasting bills in New England, Estrada explains how Connecticut’s HB5468 would significantly increase regulations on homeschool families, while New Hampshire’s HB1268 would move in the opposite direction by reducing requirements. He also explores the broader philosophical question underlying these debates: where parental rights come from, and whether they should be subject to government control.

Estrada discusses the implications of increasing homeschool regulations, including the strain on public school systems and child protective services. Drawing on national data and research, he addresses common concerns about child safety, noting that studies show no increased risk of abuse or neglect based on education type. He argues that policy efforts would be better focused on reforming child protective services rather than expanding oversight of homeschool families, and emphasizes the importance of parental involvement in a child’s education.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, President of the Parental Rights Foundation. Stay informed on parental rights news by signing up for email alerts at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• HSLDA State Homeschool Laws Map
• Bringing Achievement Home by Lindsey Burke
• Homeschooling and Child Safety: Are Kids Safer at Home? by Angela Dills
• Demographics are Predictive of Child Abuse and Neglect but Homeschool Versus Conventional School is a Non-issue by Brian Ray & Danish Shakeel
• The Changing Face of American Homeschool: A 25-Year Comparison of Race and Ethnicity by Alanna Bjorklund-Young & Angela Watson
• In Defense of Homeschool Families by Amy Buchmeyer, Esq.

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In this episode, Vernadette R. Broyles, Esq., President and Chief Counsel of the Child and Parental Rights Campaign, joins us to discuss the recent Mirabelli decision and its implications for parental rights. Broyles explains the background of the case and why many advocates view the ruling as a significant development in the ongoing legal debate over whether schools can withhold information from parents about their children. She also discusses her organization’s involvement in the case, including the filing of an amicus brief supporting the parents.

Broyles breaks down what the decision signals from the Supreme Court about the constitutional protection of parental rights and how it may influence other cases currently awaiting review, including Foote and Littlejohn. She explains the legal questions at stake, the challenges parents face in lower courts, and why some legal standards applied in these cases could make it extremely difficult for families to defend their rights. Looking ahead, Broyles shares why she is optimistic about the direction of future rulings and discusses what these cases could mean for parents, schools, and the broader constitutional landscape surrounding parental authority.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, President of the Parental Rights Foundation. Stay informed on parental rights news by signing up for email alerts at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/

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In this episode, Kelley Fong, Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Irvine and author of the award-winning book Investigating Families: Motherhood in the Shadow of Child Protective Services, and Frank Edwards, Associate Professor at the Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice, join us to discuss their new study examining the relationship between foster care entry rates and child maltreatment mortality rates. Drawing on 16 years of federal and state data from AFCARS and NCANDS, they explore a deeply consequential question: does increasing foster care entry actually reduce child maltreatment fatalities?

Their findings challenge some widely held assumptions about how foster care functions as a tool for child safety. Kelley and Frank unpack what the data does and does not show. They also explore what this means for child welfare policy, why CPS systems are largely reactive rather than preventative, and how foster care has increasingly functioned as a catch-all intervention for family instability. They discuss the urgent need for more research in this largely unstudied space and whether safer, less invasive approaches could better protect children while preserving families. Their study is open access and available to read in full here.

The EPPiC Broadcast is hosted by Michael Ramey, President of the Parental Rights Foundation. Stay informed on parental rights news by signing up for email alerts at https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/get-involved/

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