S1E5: There’s no such thing as a bad child

May 29

Get ready for a whole host of insights and inspiration in this finale episode of "A Flourishing Start: ABC's of Child & Family Well-being," Season 1! We're diving headfirst into the world of the “preschool-to-prison pipeline,” unpacking the complexities and shining a light on the resources and systems that can help our little ones break free from this cycle.

Buckle up as we hear from the dynamic Tori Porell, the brain behind the Strong Beginnings program at East Bay Children’s Law Offices (EBCLO). As the current Education Attorney at EBCLO, Tori is on a mission to bridge the educational gap for youth experiencing foster care, and she's here to share her wisdom and warrior spirit with us!

Also joining us is Sara Guillermo, the CEO of IGNITE. From being a pioneering employee to leading the charge as CEO, Sara's journey is nothing short of awe-inspiring. She's a powerhouse of resilience, juggling roles as an immigrant, first-gen college grad, youth organizer, educator, foster parent, and a breast cancer survivor.

Highlights:

7:50 - Sara’s Epic Foster Parent Journey

17:40 - Unraveling the Preschool to Prison Pipeline

20:27 - Navigating Child Entitlements & Support Systems

35:30 - Sara's Time Machine

40:28 - Power-Up for Parental Advocacy

42:57 - The Role of an Education Attorney

NOTE: In this episode, one of our speakers is an attorney, and may reference laws and legal information related to early childhood education and mental health. Please know that this is shared only as general information, and is not legal advice.

Source: In this episode, we shared that preschool children are expelled at three times the rate of children in Kindergarten through 12th grade. The source for this information comes from Gilliam WS, Shahar G. Preschool and child care expulsion and suspension: rates and predictors in one state. Infant Young Child. 2006;19(3):228–245.