Protecting Innocent Parents, with Jamie Gullen
This week, we talk with Jamie Gullen. Jamie is the Managing Attorney of the Employment Unit and Youth Justice Project at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia. On August 10th, Community Legal Services filed a lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania over Pennsylvania’s state child abuse registry. When child abuse investigations are opened, parents are automatically placed on the registry, regardless of whether they have actually been convicted of child abuse. Jamie is the lead attorney on the lawsuit, and today she explains how Pennsylvania’s child abuse registry violates due process for parents.A History of Homeschooling, with Jim Mason
This week’s episode features an interview with Jim Mason, president of the Home School Legal Defense Association. Jim has represented homeschooling families in a wide range of challenging situations and has set precedents that have expanded freedom for the homeschool community. Today, he tells us about HSLDA’s work in protecting the right of parents to teach their children at home. Plus, learn about the future of the parental rights movement and why families choose to school their children at home.Representing Parents in Family Court, with Kathleen Creamer
Welcome back to the EPPiC Broadcast! We’re kicking off our fifth season by talking with Kathleen Creamer, managing attorney of the Family Advocacy Unit at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia. Despite the life-altering consequences of CPS investigations, up to losing their children forever, many parents go to court completely unrepresented by any legal counsel. The system is particularly harsh on low-income families and families of color. Kathleen works to give high-quality legal aid to families caught up in child welfare investigations in Pennsylvania. Kathleen also breaks down how anonymous child abuse hotlines and central registries for child abusers, while ostensibly intended to protect children, often do more harm than good to innocent families. Plus, hear about a new bill in Pennsylvania that threatens parents with compulsory drug screenings based only on an anonymous hotline call.Helping Your Children Grow, with John Rosemond
This week, we talk with John Rosemond, a parenting expert who has worked with families, children, and parents since 1971. His parenting advice column is published in over 225 newspapers across the country, and he’s the author of over 15 books on parenting. John is also a Parental Rights Foundation board member. In this episode, John sits down with Will Estrada to discuss good parenting techniques, current parental rights issues, and what parents can do to help their children grow into strong, independent adults.Religious Liberty and Parental Rights, with Brad Dacus
This week, we talk with Brad Dacus, founding president of the Pacific Justice Institute, a non-profit legal defense organization specializing in the defense of religious liberties, parental rights, and other civil liberties. Brad served as Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Phil Gramm and then received his juris doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law. He went on to found the Pacific Justice Institute in 1997. Brad tells us about the work of the Pacific Justice Institute, and some of the most pivotal cases that he’s worked on.Defending Families from CPS, with Jey Rajaraman
This week we talk with Jey Rajaraman, who served the last 15 years as chief counsel and supervising attorney at Legal Services of New Jersey’s Family Representation project. She has recently joined former Children’s Bureau chiefs Jerry Milner and David Kelly at Family Integrity & Justice Works. Jey tells us about her work in providing legal support to families before a removal into foster care is needed.Parenting with a Disability, with Rachel Barkley
This week, we talk with Rachel Barkley, an experienced coalition- and community-builder at the state and local level, and a spinal cord tumor survivor and mom. Rachel tells us about her work promoting policies that promote personal freedom and human dignity, and about parenting her children while quadriplegic. In this episode, Rachel shares her professional experience in the policy-making world, and her personal experience in parenting with a disability. Rachel also hosts a podcast with her husband at instagram.com/wearethebarkleys/. This episode is hosted by Will Estrada, president of the Parental Rights Foundation and ParentalRights.org!Parental Rights and Public Schools, with Ian Prior
This week, we’re talking with Ian Prior, founder of Fight for Schools, an organization of concerned parents dedicated to protecting parental rights in the public school system of Loudoun County, Virginia. Ian explains how he came to be involved in the parental rights movement and the work his organization has done and is currently doing on behalf of parents in the local schools. This episode is hosted by Will Estrada, president of the Parental Rights Foundation and ParentalRights.org!Talking with Parental Rights Foundation President Will Estrada
In the final installment of our anniversary series, we’re celebrating 15 years of ParentalRights.org by talking with Will Estrada, president of ParentalRights.org and the Parental Rights Foundation! Will began his career with Home School Legal Defense Association and has served in the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He shares why parental rights matter to him and how his journey led him to helm ParentalRights.org and the Parental Rights Foundation.Parental Rights in Florida, with Patti Sullivan and Adriana Gonzales
In the third week of February, we’re celebrating the 15th anniversary of ParentalRights.org by talking with two volunteer State Coordinators! This week, Michael talks with Adriana Gonzales, former Florida State Coordinator for ParentalRights.org, and her successor, Patti Sullivan, now a long-time advocate for families and parental rights. Adriana and Patti share how they’ve worked to pass parental rights legislation over the years, including the recent Florida Parents Bill of Rights that was signed into law in 2021. This episode is dedicated in memory of Treon G., Leroy B., Robert M., and Barbara D., parental rights heroes who have passed in this first 15 years.Joining the Parental Rights Movement, with Shaun Alexander and Ethan Demme
Welcome to week two of our celebration of 15 years of ParentalRights.org! This week, Michael talks with Shaun Alexander, 2005 NFL MVP and Vice President of the Parental Rights Foundation, and Ethan Demme, CEO of Demme Learning and former chairman of the Parental Rights Foundation Board. Shaun and Ethan share why protecting parental rights is important to them, and how they came to join ParentalRights.org and the Parental Rights Foundation.15 Years of Parental Rights, with Michael Farris
In this first episode of our fourth season, we talk with Michael Farris, founding president of ParentalRights.org and currently the president and CEO of Alliance Defending Freedom. This month, ParentalRights.org is celebrating its 15th anniversary! To celebrate, we’re interviewing key figures from our organization’s history, beginning with our founding president. Michael explains to us why he founded ParentalRights.org, and why the mission of the organization remains so important today.Cheerleading 101 – yes, you do that too
In this episode, Angela and Bill reveal a secret—that advocating a parent’s position can in fact facilitate the quick achievement of permanency. For example, a child’s attorney ensuring a parent is promptly referred to providers will help determine whether the case plan’s services can be timely achieved.
Advocating for the parent is, of course, in the name of your client—the removed child. By moving to compel referrals for the parent, you are pushing the case to permanency within statutory timeframes. And, you are taking the lead in the litigation to further your client’s emotional stability.