Advertise on podcast: Speaking for Kids, the podcast from Michigan’s Children

In this episode of Speaking for Kids, we explore how current federal immigration policies are affecting Michigan's youngest children and the caregivers who support them every day. Joined by experts from the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), we discuss new research highlighting the impact of immigration enforcement on early childhood development, access to health care and public benefits, and the well-being of immigrant families. The conversation also examines how fear of immigration enforcement is creating barriers to essential services, the long-term effects of toxic stress on young children, and what policymakers, advocates, and communities can do to ensure every child has the opportunity to grow up healthy, safe, and supported.

In this episode of Speaking for Kids, Michigan’s Children celebrates fatherhood with special guest John Miles, Coordinator of the Wayne County Fatherhood Initiative at The Children's Center, recipient of the Spirit of Detroit Award, and father of Michigan’s Children’s Child Welfare & Education Policy Associate, Bianca Miles. Together, they discuss why one of the best Father's Day gifts we can give dads is better access to resources and support. The conversation explores the stigma many fathers face when asking for help, the importance of creating programs designed specifically for men, and how investing in fathers ultimately strengthens children, families, and communities.

In this episode of Speaking for Kids, host Bianca Miles sits down with a representative from the Ruth Ellis Center to honor the legacy of Ruth Ellis and explore the challenges LGBTQ+ youth continue to face today. Recorded during Pride Month, this conversation highlights the importance of creating safe, affirming spaces for young people and the critical role families play in supporting their well-being. Together, they discuss the stigma and barriers many LGBTQ+ youth encounter, including the heartbreaking reality that some young people leave or are forced from their homes because of a lack of acceptance. The episode also offers practical insights on how families, communities, and advocates can help foster belonging, strengthen support systems, and ensure all young people have the opportunity to thrive.

In this episode of 'Speaking for Kids', we explore the power of after-school programming and the difference innovative community-based programs are making for children and families across Michigan. Featuring guests from Detroit, Grand Rapids, and the Michigan Afterschool Partnership, the conversation highlights how after-school programs support academic success, mental health, confidence, creativity, and long-term opportunity for young people. Our guests also discuss the barriers many families face in accessing quality programming, how organizations are keeping programs engaging and relevant for today’s youth, and why Michigan should make greater investments in after-school funding. From measuring impact to creating safe and supportive spaces for kids to grow, this episode highlights why after-school programs are essential to strong communities.

In this episode of Speaking for Kids, we explore how investing in prevention can reduce child abuse and strengthen families before crises occur. Joined by experts from Children's Trust Michigan and Prevent Child Abuse America, the conversation breaks down what prevention really means and why it must be a priority. Our guests share how shifting resources upstream, toward family supports, community-based programs, and early intervention, leads to better outcomes for children and long-term savings for communities. We also discuss what meaningful investment in prevention looks like in practice and how these efforts help build stronger, more resilient families. For policymakers, advocates, and anyone who cares about children, this episode offers a clear call to action: invest early, support families, and prevent harm before it happens.

In this episode of Speaking for Kids, we examine Michigan’s early literacy crisis and what it will take to improve reading outcomes for students. With fewer than 40% of third graders reading proficiently, we explore why Michigan is falling behind while states like Mississippi are making gains. The conversation highlights the Science of Reading, how teachers are being trained and supported, and whether current funding approaches are meeting student needs. We also discuss the role of early intervention programs like Early On and what advocates and policymakers can do to move Michigan forward.

In this urgent episode of Speaking for Kids, we examine how increased immigration enforcement is impacting children and families across Michigan. According to Bridge Michigan, more than 2,349 people were detained in the state between January and October 2025, nearly three times the number detained during the same period in 2024, with the vast majority having no criminal record. At the same time, long-standing federal protections that once limited immigration enforcement in sensitive spaces like schools, hospitals, and churches have been rolled back. State Senator Mary Cavanagh joins representatives from the ACLU of Michigan and the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center to discuss how immigration actions in child-centered spaces affect students, families, and entire communities. The conversation explores proposed legislation to create “safe spaces” in Michigan, including Senate Bill 508 and related efforts, and what these policies could mean for protecting children from traumatic enforcement actions. We also discuss what happens next in the legislative process and how advocates can help build bipartisan support to ensure Michigan kids are safe, supported, and able to learn without fear.

In this episode of Speaking for Kids, we take a deep dive into Michigan’s teacher shortage through the lens of equity and opportunity. Joined by Dr. Curtis Lewis, President and Founder of Boldly Moving Education Ahead, and Charlotte Pierce, Senior Policy Analyst at EdTrust Midwest, the conversation explores new research on why Michigan continues to struggle to recruit, prepare, and retain teachers of color, and why this matters for student success across the state. With nearly 40 percent of Michigan students being students of color but only about 11 percent of teachers sharing that background, the gap has real implications for learning, belonging, and long-term outcomes. Our guests break down the key findings, the barriers in the educator pipeline, and the evidence-based strategies that can help build a stronger, more diverse, and better-supported teacher workforce, especially in Southeast Michigan and Detroit.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Michigan State Representative Gina Rigas and Heather Morey-Pols, the mother of Rowan Morey-Pols, to discuss the tragic loss that inspired the Rowan Act (HB 4517 and 4518). Together, they walk us through what happened to Rowan, why Michigan families need stronger seat belt laws for children, and how this legislation aims to prevent future tragedies. We explore the gaps in current child passenger safety laws, the data behind why proper restraints save lives, and the challenges of turning personal tragedy into public policy. Representative Rigas also talks about the progress of the legislation and what supporters can do to help move the bill forward. This episode is a conversation about grief, advocacy, and hope. It lifts up a family’s story while highlighting a life-saving effort that could protect children across Michigan.

Michigan’s maternal and infant health outcomes reveal deep inequities that continue to harm families, especially families of color. Voices for Birth was created to change that. In this episode, we talk with leaders from the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health (MCMCH) about their groundbreaking Voices for Birth initiative, the second edition of the 2021 Birth Equity Education Project, designed to lift programs, policies, and lived experiences that can improve birth outcomes and advance equity for Michigan families. Funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Voices for Birth centers the real stories of parents and caregivers across Michigan to show how systemic barriers in maternal and infant health can be addressed through collaboration, compassion, and evidence-based policy change. You’ll hear how these family stories are shaping advocacy priorities, influencing state-level decision-making, and inspiring nonprofit leaders to take action in their own communities.

This episode of Speaking for Kids honors Kinship Care Awareness Month with guest BeAnka Masefiade, Executive Director of Osofomaame, a Black-founded and led organization addressing systemic disparities facing Black youth in Michigan’s child welfare system. Black children make up 16% of Michigan children, but are overrepresented in the child welfare population, making up 29% of children in foster care. This conversation highlights why kinship care matters, the challenges caregivers face, and the urgent need for culturally competent support. Listeners will hear how Osofomaame is working to transform the system, uplift kinship families, and ensure every child can grow up in a safe, connected, and supportive environment.

This episode features a conversation with Ov’Var’Shia “Shay” Gray-Woods, who participated in the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute internship program, where she was able to intern for Senator Elissa Slotkin. We explore the day-to-day experience of working on Capitol Hill, the process of developing a federal policy proposal, and the vision behind “Reforming Workforce Development and Youth Engagement in Permanency Planning for Foster Youth Transitioning Out of Care.”

In this episode, Michigan’s Children President & CEO Matt Gillard sits down with Suzanne Greenberg of Children Trust Michigan and regional leaders Stephanie and Heather to explore the life-changing work happening across the state to prevent child abuse and neglect. From mobile resource centers delivering support to rural communities, to proven prevention programs that reduce maltreatment rates, this conversation breaks down what’s working — and what’s at risk if funding is cut. Learn why family resource centers matter, how over 44,000 children were reached in 2024, and why the fight for $4 million in state support is more urgent than ever. Prevention works. Communities are ready. But we need your voice. Visit childrenstrustmichigan.org and michiganschildren.org to learn more and take action.

In this special Pride Month episode, we’re focusing on the urgent challenges facing LGBTQ+ youth in Michigan — and what it will take to protect and uplift them. Matt is joined by Representative Emily Dievendorf (D-77) and Emme Zanotti, Senior Director of Movement Building & Political Affairs at Equality Michigan. Together, they break down the real impact of harmful legislation, the rising threats to queer youth, and the role that advocates, allies, and lawmakers must play in creating safe and affirming spaces. This is a must-listen for anyone who cares about youth, equity, and justice.

In this episode, we explore what mental health looks like across the early years and into adolescence — and what adults need to understand to truly support kids. Matt is joined by an expert in infant and early childhood mental health (ages 0–3) and a professional working closely with middle and high school youth. Together, they unpack the signs of struggle, the systems that help (or hurt), and what it will take to create real change for young people’s mental wellness in Michigan. What does mental health look like in toddlers? What challenges are older youth facing today? What can we do to make things better? Tune in for practical insights, honest reflections, and a better understanding of how we can all support the mental health of Michigan’s kids.