Latonia Rolbiecki, a Minnesota mother of three, died last month at the age of 48. Several years ago, Rolbiecki was the subject of an Imprint series about her fight to adopt her grandson after he was taken into foster care at birth. Rolbiecki lost that legal battle, and her grandson was adopted by non-relative foster parents. On this week’s episode we reflect back on the series, “Latonia vs. Chisago County,” and what her experience reflects about the child welfare system. We ...

In this episode of InnerViews, Ivory sits down with Realtor Joy Hill and Mortgage Banker David McGowan to discuss her journey to becoming a first-time homeowner—while navigating adversity, foster care advocacy, and single motherhood. Together, they unpack the realities of accessible homeownership, financial literacy, and breaking generational cycles. This episode is both informative and deeply personal, reminding us that building a home isn’t just about property—it’s about planting roots for ...

On this week’s episode we present the second part of our career-spanning interview with Vinny Schiraldi, currently a visiting fellow with the Pinkerton Foundation. In part one we talked with Schiraldi about his formative years in youth justice and his first job leading a government agency. We start part two with a job Schiraldi actually didn’t get: leading the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for the Obama administration. Then we turn to his time leading New York Ci...

On this week’s episode we begin a two-part in-depth interview with Vinny Schiraldi, a firebrand for justice reform whose career has included leadership on alternatives to incarceration, advocacy, and government leadership. In part one we talk to Schiraldi, now a fellow with the Pinkerton Foundation, about his own formative impressions of the justice system as an adolescent growing up in Brooklyn. Then we discuss his first job working at a New York group home for delinquent youth, and the chan...

On this week’s Headlines edition of Imprint Weekly Podcast, we discuss the implications of the government shutdown, the newest federal data on foster care, and promising research on home visiting programs. We also talk about recent headlines about the rollback of youth justice laws in D.C., chronic absenteeism in Georgia, and a college president looking to make his campus more supportive of foster youth. Reading Room Trump, Kids and Families: Register for Free https://us02web.zoom.us/we...

In this powerful episode of InnerViews, Destiny Jackson shares her journey of navigating foster care, homelessness, and life with Type 1 diabetes—all while pursuing her dreams at Spelman College. From overcoming systemic barriers to advocating for healthcare equity and child welfare reform, Destiny’s story is one of courage, resilience, and unapologetic hope.

On this week’s episode we talk to Gretchen Sisson, a sociologist studying abortion and adoption. Sisson’s research on mothers who choose to relinquish their rights into private adoptions led to her writing Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood. We talked about that research, her book, and what both experiences have led her to believe about the framework and very existence of adoption in America. Gretchen Sisson is a qualitative sociologist study...

On this week’s episode we talk with Claudia Rowe, one of the true veteran journalists in the child welfare and youth justice space. We talked about her experiences covering both systems in New York and in Washington State, but focused on her recently published book Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care. Claudia Rowe is a member of the Seattle Times editorial board, and has reported for decades on youth and family services for the New York Times, Huffington Post and...

On this Headlines edition of the podcast, we start by talking about recent Imprint coverage that examines the on-the-ground impact of recent Trump policies and actions. We also cover new research about foster youth access to both medication and therapy, and Texas’ recent policy update to define what does not count as neglect. We also dive into some more recent Imprint reporting on hidden foster care, aging out, and a class-action lawsuit. Reading Room ‘Fast, Sudden, Unexplainable and Po...

In this episode of InnerViews, we sit down with Lakievia to explore her powerful story of resilience, transformation, and advocacy. From navigating the juvenile justice system to becoming a fierce champion for youth, she reveals how cycles can be broken through restorative justice, trauma-informed care, and community support. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on healing, hope, and rewriting the narrative for the next generation.

On this Headlines edition of The Imprint Weekly Podcast, we start with news of out Washington, D.C., including the confirmation hearing for Trump’s child welfare nominee; the lack of grants available on juvenile justice; and several actions related to immigration policy and youth. We also discuss several recent stories from The Imprint on adoption assistance and out-of-state placement, a survey of Indigenous foster youth, and an increase in homeless families in Georgia. Reading Room “St...

On this week’s episode, Michael Tanana of Lyssn, joins us to talk about artificial intelligence, or AI, in the child welfare system. Tanana helped found Lyssn, which uses AI to help assess the quality of various services in a way that used to require painstaking transcription and notetaking. We talked about starting an AI company in this space and also about his views around the ethical application of it in a system where the integrity of families is often on the line. Michael Tanana i...

In this deliciously deep episode, we sit down with Nancy Konjo—author of From Jollof to Sweet Potato Pie and a faith-rooted justice advocate. We talk food as healing, faith as resistance, and what it means to build bridges across the African diaspora. Nancy shares how her Cameroonian roots, her spiritual journey, and her cultural creativity have shaped her commitment to community and justice. Resources Mentioned: Digital Cookbook – From Jollof to Sweet Potato PieBook a 1:1 Cooking ClassW...

On July 9, the Department of Health and Human Services started the funding competition for organizations that work on the frontlines of helping youth who are homeless, have run away, and are either involved in or at risk of being trafficked. That notice came very late in the year, and many are worried the administration might run out of time to actually make grants. And, this year’s competition will not include unique grants for street outreach, a major part of the federal program since...

On this week’s Headlines edition of the podcast, we start by summing up the most relevant details from the massive budget bill recently passed by Congress and signed by President Trump. We also discuss The Imprint’s recent reporting on youth who enter foster care due to their behavioral health needs, and not because of abuse or neglect, and describe the new policies in New Mexico around removal of newborns who test positive for certain drugs. Reading Room White House Watch https://impri...

In this deeply personal and profoundly moving episode, host Ivory Bennett is joined by mental health professional Dr. Alison Davis for a candid conversation about the emotional toll and transformative lessons of caregiving. From the complexities of single motherhood and fostering to the importance of emotional regulation, healing, and support systems—this conversation will resonate with anyone navigating life, loss, and love in the margins of care. Guest Bio: Dr. Alison Davis is a licensed me...

On this week’s episode of The Imprint Weekly Podcast we are joined by Brandon Nichols, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, and Victor Dominguez, CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles. They recently partnered to guarantee a YMCA membership to every older youth in foster care, as well as former foster youth up to age 26. We talked about how the partnership came together, what youth can get out of a Y membership, and talked a bit about how the fre...

On this week’s episode, Congressman Greg Landsman joins to talk about the Campus Housing Affordability Act, his new bipartisan bill to make dorm life attainable for current and former foster youth. We discuss the college dorm model in his home state that inspired the bill, how the legislation would work, and since he’s on the committee that oversees Medicaid spending, we chatted a little at the end of the Big Beautiful Bill and how its cuts to Medicaid might impact families. U.S. Rep. G...

On this week’s “Headlines” edition of the Imprint Weekly Podcast, we talk about the new federal dashboard for child welfare data from through the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System. We discuss the dashboard itself and what we hope it evolves to include, and then break down some of the trendlines in this year’s numbers. We also discuss the latest on President Trump’s spending request for 2026, what made it into the “Big Beautiful” reconciliation bill that now si...

In this powerful episode of innerViews, changemakers Isabel Stasa, Erica Hickey, and Lily Colby share how they transformed personal pain into public purpose through advocacy. They discuss the founding of the National Network for Fostering Sibling Connections and their fight to preserve sibling bonds in foster care. This is a masterclass in lived expertise, policy change, and healing. Guest Bios: Isabel N. Stasa is the Head of Community Engagement & Public Affairs at Foster Greatness...