My wife Laurie and I are the rabbis of Congregation Micah in Brentwood, Tennessee – a spiritual community that adopted the words of Micah (6:8), the Biblical prophet and civil rights advocate, as our congregation’s message of equality and welcome for all: “Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with thy God.” The prophet’s words call […]
“We remain steadfast in our conviction that the law requires the same support to approved relative foster caregivers as it provides to licensed foster caregivers and look forward to advancing the merits of our clients’ claims in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. We believe the law commands it, and conscience demands it.”—Ira Lustbader, Chief […]
Honor and share Cornelius’ memory: Facebook Twitter Instagram Today, we are thinking about Cornelius Frederick. Cornelius was a softhearted, rambunctious Black 16-year old child. He loved chess, card tricks, and computers. He was a loving brother and nephew who dreamed of being a counselor one day. His life was not easy. At age 10, he […]
When I see the never-ending news reports about the inhumane conditions children in migrant detention centers are being forced to live in, I am reminded of my own experiences growing up in foster care facilities. This article got it exactly right. What’s happening to children at the border is a travesty. But it’s also happening […]
Sometimes things just click. Call it Kismet, call it karma, call it dumb luck. For me it happened in 2017, when I first met Children’s Rights. At the time, I had been working in Health Policy at Missouri Foundation for Health for 15 years. Our mission is to eliminate the underlying causes of health inequities, transform systems, […]
Food and helping young people are my twin passions. I am the chef and owner of Milk & Butter Catering, LLC in Houston, Texas. Yeah, Houston. Living through the aftermath of the 2021 winter storm has been a heck of a roller coaster! I went 6 days without power and water in freezing temperatures. And the end […]
Most children have parents or family to watch after them and keep them safe. People who help them get ready for school each morning. Someone to make their favorite meals. And when their child is unwell or in need of care, they take them to doctor and counseling appointments and actively advocate for them and […]
The child welfare system is expansive, sometimes overbearing, and uniquely complex in the outcomes it can deliver. Equally as complex are the young people that enter and exit and the lives they choose to lead. Many of us take on roles working to improve the lives of other vulnerable populations whether they are in the […]
A Dangerous Combination Observations from our work We have seen how psychotropics harm children in various foster care systems when not carefully administered. For example, in Missouri, we got to know KC. She was 12 years old and placed in a large congregate care facility. She was prescribed five psychotropics. Our adult client, Kris, when […]
Around the country, youth in foster group homes, juvenile detention centers, and prisons are testing positive for the coronavirus. Some places have seen riots, with kids running away from facilities because they are afraid of being infected – in one instance they were tear-gassed. These children are being placed in 20-hour-plus solitary confinement for their […]
