Are You Kidding Me? – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Policymakers, researchers, and activists in the child welfare field frequently point to racial disparities within the system, as evidence of the systemic bias. But what are the true causes of these disparities? And how should governmental bodies tasked with protecting civil rights understand this issue?

This week, Naomi and Ian are joined by Rafael Mangual, Nick Ohnell Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, to discuss his recent resignation from the New York State Advisory Committee to the US Commission on Civil Rights after it conducted an investigation of racial disparities in the child welfare system. Rafael discusses the report published by the committee, which includes recommendations that would significantly diminish the power of the child welfare system. He includes data from his own research that challenges the findings of the committee and expresses concern that other state committees are going to engage in the same kind of work that is thin on evidence and heavy on ideology.

Resources

-Kids In Jeopardy | Rafael Mangual

-The Radical Push to Dismantle Child Protective Services | Naomi Schaefer Riley and Rafael Mangual

-Advisory Committees | US Commission on Civil Rights

Show Notes

04:00 What are the disparities in the child welfare system, and what are the potential explanations for them? How did the committee go about gathering information to answer that question?

11:30 How do committee members respond when alternative data is presented that suggests other causes for disparities besides systemic racism?

20:48 How would you respond to the claim that cash payments to families involved in child welfare will effectively address issues of abuse or neglect, and what do activists believe will be accomplished by this idea?

In 1996, Rev. W.C. Martin and his wife partnered with 22 families in their 100-person congregation to adopt 77 of the most difficult-to-place children in the Texas foster care system. A recent film, Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot, tells the stories of these families and the inspiring results of their efforts.

This week, Naomi and Ian are joined by Joe Knittig, CEO of Care Portal and executive producer of Possum Trot. As leader of an organization designed to connect caretakers and resources in local communities to children in need, Joe was already well-versed in bringing communities together to support vulnerable kids. As executive producer of Possum Trot he hopes to broaden these efforts, encouraging faith communities across the nation to step up for kids in foster care.

Resources

-Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot | Angel Studios

-How Churches Can Make a Difference in the Lives of Children Who Need Foster Care | Naomi Schaefer Riley

Show Notes

-00:40 | Tell us about your background and how it led to your involvement in the film?

-02:15 | How does Care Portal connect caretakers with children in need?

-05:49 | What is the story behind the Possum Trot? What are you hoping to accomplish through the film?

-08:03 | When the Martin family approached the state about adopting the most difficult-to-place children, what was the initial response?

-10:20 | The story of Possum Trot takes place in a historically black church community. How does this story contribute to the conversation around race in the child welfare system?

-13:55 | How could the film catalyze churches and faith-based organizations to become more involved in child welfare and the foster care system?

-16:17 | The film highlights the real struggles of fostering children. Is that part of the story resonating with audiences?

-19:04 | How can listeners see the film?

-20:18 | You are showing screenings of the film in church communities—what impact are you seeing?

-21:48 | How are the original families doing?

Why are Americans having fewer children? And why do younger Americans seem resistant to the idea of having children at all?

In this episode, Naomi and Ian are joined by Tim Carney, a senior fellow at AEI focusing on family, religion, and civil society in America. Tim discusses his upcoming book, “Family Unfriendly: How Our Culture Made Raising Kids Much Harder than It Needs to Be.” Tim unpacks all the ways parenting has become harder--from the expectation that parents must provide children with every extracurricular opportunity, to the collapse of marriage and the lack of neighborhoods where kids can walk places. He also argues for a return to the idea that children are inherently valuable—not just vehicles for accomplishments. To conclude, Tim makes recommendations for how coaches, local legislators, educators, and parents can encourage younger people to prioritize getting married and starting a family as they are building their lives.

Resources

Family Unfriendly: How Our Culture Made Raising Kids Much Harder Than It Needs to Be | Tim Carney

Civilizational Sadness: We Are Becoming Sad and Afraid, and So We Are Making Fewer Babies | Tim Carney

Show Notes

- 0:00:45 | What prompted you to write the book?

- 0:04:21 | Are there any ways we can make culture more family-friendly through public policy?

- 0:06:56 | What makes you different that allows you to see the problems here? What can we do to cultivate more individuals who value family and children?

- 0:09:35 | Do you need an underlying religious belief in order to see family differently?

- 0:13:52 | How is all of this affecting the trend of young people who are delaying marriage?

- 0:23:00 | How can we use research like Raj Chetty’s around upward mobility to strengthen the case for families?

How does family structure impact the social, educational, and economic outcomes of kids? Is the nuclear family really just a myth constructed in the 1950s? Can stable families advance the cause of social justice? On this episode of “Are You Kidding Me?” Ian and Naomi are joined by AEI Visiting Scholar and UVA sociologist W. […]

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Ian and Naomi discuss how parents can balance caretaking with teleworking and how teachers can ensure that students' living rooms are productive classrooms.

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Child pornography is both illegal and immoral, yet it continues to proliferate throughout cyberspace. Ian and Naomi discuss what, if anything, the government and private tech companies can do to stop it. Later, they discuss the potential of predictive analytics to avoid tragedies like the murder of 6-year-old Zymere Perkins. Show Notes: – Explosion of […]

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Spence-Chapin CEO Kate Trambitskaya joins Ian and Naomi to discuss routes to adoption, attitudes to birth-family contact, and ways to promote fostering kids

The post Changing the culture of adoption appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

Children entering the foster care system have often experienced serious trauma, but there is nothing inevitable about their life’s trajectories. In this episode, Naomi and Ian discuss what happens to youth aging out of foster care, how the child welfare system can increase the recruitment and retention of foster parents, and the difference between child […]

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Ian and Naomi discuss the impact of family structure on black children's outcomes and how the Indian Child Welfare Act made a "separate but unequal" system

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Ian Rowe and Naomi Schaefer Riley discuss debates over the Federal Charter Schools Program, as well as the tense relationships between communities and Child Protective Services.

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