In this episode, Emilie Kao, senior counsel and vice president of advocacy strategy for Alliance Defending Freedom and member of the Parental Rights Foundation Board of Advisors, joins us to discuss her article “Preserving Childhood: Dependency, Consent, and Parental Rights in Healthcare,” featured in The State of Parental Rights in America. Emilie explores the legal foundations of parental rights in healthcare decision-making, the Supreme Court’s parental rights precedent, and the historical understanding of childhood dependency and parental responsibility.

The conversation also examines the rise of the “mature minor” doctrine and its growing role in healthcare policy. Emilie discusses how policy-driven consent standards developed, the major areas where the doctrine is most frequently applied today, and the tension between parental authority, state interests, and adolescent autonomy. She also explains why these debates matter for families, healthcare policy, and constitutional protections moving forward.

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, 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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