The kitchen table is not a hiding place—it’s your boardroom. Grandparents and kin caregivers are not just enduring the fallout of a broken system; you are the frontline, demanding justice, resources, and lasting change for your families. The days of surviving in silence are finished. This episode arms you with real-world strategies, radically honest language, and a call to challenge every system that fails our kids.
Dr. Janet Rosenzweig, a nationally recognized child welfare expert and author, joins us with the unfiltered truth and the actionable playbook you need to transition from quiet survivor to a grassroots leader fighting for trauma-informed policy, Medicaid protection, and economic justice.
Key Takeaways:
• Expose the Hidden Foster Care Crisis: We unveil how kinship families shoulder trauma while states downplay their sacrifice—and why keeping quiet only helps abusers and bureaucrats.
• Demand Economic Equity and System Reform: Discover why Medicaid, housing, and funding for trauma services aren’t frills or favors—they are non-negotiable rights for every kin caregiver.
• Hold Every Institution Accountable: Get the concrete steps to interrogate youth organizations and schools, making safety, transparency, and accountability the new standard.
• Break Silence, Build Safety: Learn why using real language and setting clear household boundaries dismantles shame, empowers children, and disrupts cycles of abuse.
Dr. Janet Rosenzweig brings a lifetime of expertise in child welfare, sex education, and public policy. With advanced degrees from Rutgers and Harvard’s Kennedy School, she has led at the state and national level, advised public and private organizations, and authored The Sex-Wise Parent, a trusted guide for caregivers determined to protect and empower children with resilience and knowledge. Dr. Rosenzweig is relentless in her advocacy for trauma-informed systems and practical, honest resources for families.
Order her book, "The Sex-Wise Parent" and find empowering resources at www.sexwiseparent.com (https://www.sexwiseparent.com/) .
Your call to action:
Share your story, contact your representatives, and pass this episode to others who refuse to accept silence and shame as protection. Change starts at your kitchen table. The reform our children deserve begins now.
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New! Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Online Support Circle (https://www.grandparents-raising-grandchildren.org/online-support-circle/) ! Starting Wednesday, October 7th, we meet every other Wednesday from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM Eastern.
A peer-first, confidential space—free from cross-talk, judgment, or unsolicited advice. Guided by certified therapists, specialized family coaches, and counselors who truly understand kinship care.
When we look at the child welfare system today, it’s clear that the framework we've inherited is completely outdated. We keep trying to "fix" programs, but what if the problem isn't just funding or execution? What if the problem is how we frame the issues in the first place?
Ali Caliendo, founder of the Kinship Policy Lab, reminded us that the questions we ask determine the policies we write, the data we collect, and the outcomes we pursue.
I want to know how you’re doing. Is the podcast giving you what you need? What support are you missing most right now? Send me a Direct Message on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/GrandparentsRaisingGrandchilden) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/grandparentspodcast/) or email me directly at laurabrazan@grandparents-raising-grandchildren.org. I read and reply to every message because this community is built on supporting each other!
Thank you for tuning into today's episode. It's been a journey of shared stories, insights, and invaluable advice from the heart of a community that knows the beauty and challenges of raising grandchildren. Your presence and engagement mean the world to us and to grandparents everywhere stepping up in ways they never imagined.
Remember, you're not alone on this journey. For more resources, support, and stories, visit our website and follow us on our social media channels. If today's episode moved you, consider sharing it with someone who might find comfort and connection in our shared experiences.
We look forward to bringing more stories and expert advice your way next week. Until then, take care of yourselves and each other.
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