Strong Voices

Changes in education laws can leave parents with questions about their rights, their children’s school experiences, and the services available to support their families. In this episode of Strong Voices, Dr. Ashley Barnes and Dr. Victoria Sendejo welcome Lauren Sly and Katie Francis from Communities In Schools of Greater Tarrant County to discuss Texas Senate Bill 12 (SB 12) and what it means for parents and students.

The conversation explores parental consent, school-based support services, confidentiality, and how families can navigate questions about school policies. Lauren and Katie explain how SB 12 has influenced the way organizations and schools communicate with parents, obtain consent, and work together to support students.

Throughout the discussion, the guests emphasize the importance of clear communication, informed consent, and strong relationships between families and schools. They encourage parents to ask questions, understand the forms they sign, and know that they can seek additional information or reconsider consent as circumstances change.

Talking with children about human trafficking can feel overwhelming, but these conversations are an important part of helping kids recognize unsafe situations and know when to ask for help. In this episode of Strong Voices, Dr. Ashley Barnes and Dr. Victoria Sendejo are joined by Susan Peters, CEO and Founder of Unbound Now, to discuss what human trafficking can look like in our communities, how children can be manipulated online and in relationships, and how parents can create a safe space for kids to talk about difficult experiences.

Susan explains that trafficking does not always look like the stories portrayed in movies. Children may be manipulated by someone they know, an older boyfriend, a person they meet online, or someone who gradually builds trust and separates them from their friends, family, and support systems. The conversation also explores emerging concerns such as sexting, online relationships, and more.

Most importantly, the episode focuses on what parents can do. From creating a home where children feel safe coming to them after making a mistake to learning how to have uncomfortable conversations without panic or shame, parents can play an important role in prevention.

Listeners will learn how to recognize potential warning signs, respond when they are concerned, and connect with trained professionals when a child or young adult may be experiencing exploitation.

From viral TikTok challenges to increasing peer pressure online, today's teens are navigating a digital world unlike any generation before them. In this episode of Strong Voices, Dr. Ashley Barnes and Dr. Victoria Sendejo are joined by trauma specialist Scott Watters to explore why adolescents are drawn to risky online trends, how brain development influences decision-making, and what parents can do to create a safe, trusting relationship that helps children make healthier choices.

Social media can provide creativity, connection, and entertainment—but it can also expose children and teens to dangerous trends that have serious real-world consequences.

Welcome to our Strong Voices Podcast — the show where we speak candidly about concerning things that occur in our world; the seasons of life as a parent; and how to manage hard conversations with our kids.

Stories about violence in schools, students disrupting the learning environment, aggressive behavior, attacks on teachers, and child-on-child violence are in the news daily.

Being subjected to violent acts leads to trauma and can have a major impact on students, staff, and their families.

Taes Leavitt, award-winning creator of children's television and live experiences and founder of Big Heart Journey, joins us to discuss how anxiety and experiencing "big feelings" or overwhelming emotions is impacting kids, families, and schools. Taes gives us some practical tools to connect with children and teens and how to navigate these difficult conversations as a parent or caregiver.