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/.

Support the show