That’s not an exaggeration. It’s not a headline. It’s the reality that Kelis Houston has been fighting against for over a decade—and in this conversation, she doesn’t hold anything back.

Kelis Houston is the Executive Director of Village Arms and Chair of the NAACP’s Child Protection Committee. She’s a policy consultant, advocate, trainer, and—more than anything—a relentless voice for justice. What started as a job at a youth shelter became a life calling after she witnessed firsthand the racial disparities and trauma inflicted by the child protection system.

In this episode, Kelis walks us through her journey: from working in shelters to writing policy, from volunteer advocacy to authoring the African American Family Preservation Act, and everything in between. Her story is one of grit, faith, and fire. She’s seen the damage. She’s named the truth. And she’s still showing up.

This isn’t just a conversation about what’s wrong. It’s a deep dive into how we fight back—with facts, with prayer, with policy, with community.

✨ What You’ll Hear

03:24 – How Kelis found herself in the world of child protection

06:49 – The disproportionality she witnessed—and why it lit a fire

08:05 – Writing the African American Family Preservation Act

13:10 – How neglect is used as a catchall to target poor Black families

19:17 – What parents can do if they’re investigated

25:59 – What’s changed under the new law (and what still needs to)

30:26 – Why family preservation and child safety are not oppositional

38:12 – The foster care pipeline and federal incentives

42:01 – Breaking systems, breaking cycles

44:15 – Why documenting and recording everything matters

49:17 – How systems even work to separate parents

54:26 – What happens when you’re grieving a child who’s still living

56:07 – How to prepare during pregnancy

01:02:22 – What families can ask for under the new law

01:07:07 – Why we must fight first, then reform

🗣️ Standout Quotes

“I didn’t dream of doing this work. It chose me.”

“They’re not protecting children. They’re punishing poverty.”

“Family preservation is about safety—psychological safety, cultural safety, emotional safety.”

“The system didn’t start caring about our children. They started seeing dollar signs.”

“You’re not seeing it for no reason. God showed it to you so you could do something about it.”

💭 This Week’s Reflection

Where are you being called to speak up—even if it’s uncomfortable, even if it’s costly?

And if you’re walking through something heavy: Who can you invite to stand with you so you don’t carry it alone?

🙌 Stay Connected + Keep the Conversation Going

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Village Arms Website: http://villagearms.org

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✨ This is more than a podcast—it’s a movement. Thank you for being part of it.