Speaking for Kids, the podcast from Michigan’s Children
46 episodes listed below
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In their own words
Each month, Speaking for Kids the podcast will bring you a variety of crucial conversations with people making public policy – and the voices of the people impacted by those decisions in Michigan. Our goal will be to help you strengthen your voice to speak up for the changes we need to improve Michigan’s kids' & families' lives.In this and future podcasts, we’ll explore encouraging champions like you to get involved in the issues we’re fighting for. Including child care, early childhood education and development, the child welfare and foster care systems, family supports and kinship care, family supports, the needs of adult learners & family literacy, youths involved in the juvenile justice…
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Podcasts like Speaking for Kids, the podcast from Michigan’s Children
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Sound of the StateIllinois policy, straight from Springfield.
Episodes
- 1
Early Childhood Literacy: Michigan's Path to Reading
Matt Gillard opens by noting that Michigan ranks 44th in third-grade reading test scores and links the conversation to the governor's literacy budget priorities.
Apr 13, 2026·35m·2 clips - 2
The Rowan Act: Strengthening Michigan’s Amber Alert system (House bills 4517 & 4518)
This episode discusses the Rowan Act, a legislative proposal in Michigan, with guests including a lawmaker and a parent advocate.
Mar 25, 2026·18m - 3
Supporting Family Stability Through Child Abuse Prevention: The Children’s Trust of Michigan & Family Resource Centers
Mar 25, 2026·30m - 4
Protecting Michigan Kids From Traumatizing Immigration Enforcement Practices: MI’s Proposed Safe Spaces Bill
Hidden gemMichigan's Children’s Speaking for Kids revisits immigration enforcement in Michigan after Bridge Michigan reported more than 2,349 detentions from January through October 2025, almost triple the same stretch in 2024.
Mar 25, 2026·35m·2 clips - 5
Hope and Hard Work: Building a diverse teacher workforce in Michigan
Hidden gemMatt Gillard of Michigan's Children hosts Charlotte Pierce of Ed Trust Midwest and Curtis Lewis of Boldly Moving Education Ahead to discuss Hope and Hard Work Ahead, Building a Strong and Diverse Teacher Workforce for Michigan Students.
Mar 25, 2026·22m·1 clip - 6
Voices for Birth: Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health
A podcast discussing Michigan public policies and advocacy efforts to improve the lives of children and families, featuring interviews with policymakers and advocates.
Mar 25, 2026·27m - 7
Celebrating Kinship Awareness Month: Supporting kinship families as a strategy to address the over-representation of children of color in foster care
Hidden gemMichigan's Children's Speaking for Kids marks Kinship Awareness Month by contrasting more than 50,000 Michigan children living with kin carers with about 4,500 children already in foster care.
Mar 25, 2026·39m·2 clips - 8
Foster Youth Leadership in Action: Reforming workforce development for youth transitioning out of the foster care system
Hidden gemDr.
Mar 25, 2026·32m·3 clips - 9
Celebrating Pride and Navigating Challenges for Michigan's LGBTQIA+ Youth
Jun 27, 2025·31m - 10
Children and Youth Mental Health Awareness
Jun 2, 2025·23m - 11
Department of Education Cuts and Implications for Children with Disabilities
This episode discusses potential federal cuts to the U.S.
May 6, 2025·32m - 12
The Michele Corey Child Advocacy Summit and The Important of Including Youth Voice
Apr 14, 2025·23m - 13
Recent Changes in Immigrant Enforcement and their Impact on Michigan Kids and Families
Mar 5, 2025·42m - 14
The Policy of Reading
Jan 28, 2025·21m - 15
Shaping the Future: Election Priorities for Children and Families
Oct 28, 2024·18m - 16
Kiss the Babies, Raising the Awareness of Gun Violence
Aug 5, 2024·20m - 17
Exchange for Change: What Happens when Police & Youth Come Together to Try to Bridge the Gap
Jun 18, 2024·35m - 18
Why this School Leader Embraces Community-Based Child Care Providers in Pre-K for All
May 29, 2024·23m - 19
The New Movement for Equity in School Funding
Apr 5, 2024·22m - 20
Making ‘PreK for All’ Work for All
Feb 29, 2024·22m - 21
Debriefing the Governor’s State of the State Address
Jan 26, 2024·30m - 22
Michigan Capitol Report: What's Ahead in 2024?
Dec 18, 2023·29m - 23
What's Next for Paid Family Medical Leave in Michigan?
Nov 8, 2023·25m - 24
Kinship Care in Michigan: The Case for More Support
Sep 27, 2023·34m - 25
Big Wins in Michigan’s FY24 Budget for Afterschool, Adult Ed, Homeless Youth
Jul 18, 2023·32m - 26
As FY24 State Budget Talks Finalize, Insiders Share What Advocates Should Know
May 24, 2023·29m - 27
Students Empowered: Youth Rise Up, Speak Out Against Gun Violence
Mar 27, 2023·27m - 28
How Gov. Whitmer’s Universal PreK Plan Impacts Early Childhood
Mar 1, 2023·27m - 29
How Gov. Whitmer’s Universal PreK Plan Impacts Early Childhood
Feb 28, 2023·26m - 30
Gun Reform is a Children's Issue
Feb 9, 2023·22m - 31
Justice by Geography? Addressing Juvenile Detention
Nov 18, 2022·29m - 32
What’s in Store for Kinship Care in Michigan?
Sep 1, 2022·22m - 33
Change is Coming: Youth and Michigan's Justice System: Michigan's Children's Matt Gillard
Jul 28, 2022·34m - 34
The Business Case for High-Quality Child Care
May 27, 2022·30m - 35
Fostering Early Childhood Mental Health: A Timely Talk with Eminent Researcher, Dr. Walter Gilliam
An interview with Dr.
Apr 12, 2022·27m - 36
Tax Reform: Which Plan Works Best for Children, Youth and Families?
Mar 24, 2022·25m - 37
Reforming Kinship Care in Michigan
Jan 25, 2022·30m - 38
Reforming Kinship Care in Michigan
Jan 25, 2022·30m - 39
What Build Back Better Will Mean for Michigan with Sen. Debbie Stabenow
Dec 6, 2021·18m - 40
Re-imaging Child Welfare: Discussing the Latest Michigan Task Force on Foster Care
Dec 3, 2021·37m - 41
What Michiganders Want: Investments in Children
Sep 30, 2021·26m - 42
Is ’60 by 30’ Achievable for Michigan? The Promise and Reality of a Postsecondary Education
This episode explores the goal of 60% post-secondary attainment by 2030 in Michigan, featuring interviews with a college access network director and a student ambassador.
Aug 30, 2021·27m - 43
Why Michigan Students Need Afterschool More than Ever
Jul 27, 2021·30m - 44
Decision Time: Lawmakers Discuss Governor’s $1.4 Billion Plan for Michigan’s Child Care System
This episode discusses Michigan's child care system reform and a $1.4 billion investment, featuring state legislators.
Jul 7, 2021·29m - 45
Transforming Michigan's Child Care System: A Call to Action
This episode discusses the need to transform Michigan's child care system using federal relief dollars and state policy changes.
May 12, 2021·33m - 46
Aiyash & Roth, Rookie Lawmakers across the Aisle, Meet with Michigan's Children's Matt Gillard
Apr 1, 2021·37m