The family policing system considers parents with mental health issues and other disabilities to be an inherent threat to their children. We reject that premise.

Because of ableism, the legacy of eugenics, and the violence of poverty, disabled parents face a high risk of separation by the family policing system.

In this episode, Dr. Robyn Powell discusses how the child welfare system weaponizes the idea of “predictive neglect” to discriminate against parents with disabilities and further enshrine stigma around mental health.

How can we build a future where disabled families are supported through care, community, and trust—not surveillance and punishment?

Reclaiming Safety is upEND’s exploration of frequently asked questions about family policing abolition. This discussion about disability justice is an accompaniment to the essay Reclaiming Safety for Children of Parents with Disabilities by Charisa Smith.

About Our Guest:

Dr. Robyn Powell is an Assistant Professor of Law at Stetson University College of Law and a Senior Research Associate at the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University. Her work focuses on disability law, reproductive justice, family regulation, and constitutional law, with a special emphasis on the rights of disabled parents and the abolition of the family policing system.

She is the principal author of the National Council on Disability’s landmark report Rocking the Cradle, Ensuring the Rights of Parents with Disabilities and Their Children, and her scholarship—featured in leading law reviews and interdisciplinary journals—examines how law and policy continue to reinforce ableism and the legacy of eugenics.

Episode Notes:

• Support the work of upEND: upendmovement.org/donate

• Episode Transcript: upendmovement.org/podcast/episode301/

• Read Reclaiming Safety: upendmovement.org/safety

• Dr. Powell recommends people learn more about disability justice through Sins Invalid and the Disability Visibility Project.

• Connect with Dr. Powell at Stetson Law.

  
  

Credits:

• Hosted by Josie Pickens and Jaison Oliver

• Produced by Sydnie Mares

• Mixed by Imani Crosby

Welcome to Season 3 of The upEND Podcast where we’ll be answering all of your burning questions about family policing abolition!

If we get rid of the child welfare system, what will happen when children are harmed? Are abolitionists saying that child abuse is okay?

Reclaiming Safety is upEND’s new anthology series answering important, frequently asked questions and proposing effective, humane responses to crises that occur in our communities. To introduce the series, we talk to the editor of Reclaiming Safety, Angela Burton.

About Our Guest:

Angela Burton is a renowned community lawyer, scholar, and public servant with over thirty years of experience advocating for the rights of parents and children in the family policing system, commonly known as the child welfare system. Her commitment to social justice is driven by a deep understanding of the systemic inequities faced by vulnerable families. Angela has consistently fought to protect the human, constitutional, and civil rights of marginalized individuals, ensuring their voices are heard, their experiences valued, and their expertise centered in catalyzing and implementing change.

Episode Notes:

• Support the work of upEND: upendmovement.org/donate

• Episode Transcript: upendmovement.org/podcast/episode301/

• Read Reclaiming Safety: upendmovement.org/safety

• Angela mentions the Repeal CAPTA campaign.

• Angela co-wrote an article with Angeline Montauban called “Toward Community Control of Child Welfare Funding: Repeal the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and Delink Child Protection from Family Well-Being.”

• Angela cites the work of MJ Maleeka Jihad, Narrowing the Front Door, JMAC for Families, and Parents Supporting Parents.

• Connect with Angela on LinkedIn and Instagram.

  
  

Credits:

• Hosted by Josie Pickens and Jaison Oliver

• Produced by Sydnie Mares

• Mixed by Imani Crosby

Welcome to the Season 2 Finale!

Reproductive justice has always been the foundation of upEND’s work to abolish the family policing system. Both movements focus on bodily autonomy and our human right to keep ourselves and our children safe from oppressive systems.

That’s why we wanted to speak with Ash Williams, a Black trans abortion doula, storyteller, community organizer, and public intellectual from Fayetteville, Nc.

We talk about gender affirming care, abortion doula trainings, and how abolitionist work means providing support and care to one another outside of the system.

Episode Notes:

• Support the work of upEND: upendmovement.org/donate

• Episode Transcript

• Watch Ash’s panel at upEND’s 2023 Convening.

• Learn more about the Carolina Abortion Fund.

• Ash discusses the death of a child in North Carolina, which is a reproductive justice issue.

• Learn more about the Mountain Area Abortion Doula Collective.

• Ash recommends learning about organizations like We Testify.

• Follow Ash Williams on Instagram, @ashwilliamsclt.