The Lives in the Balance Podcast

Preschool Pushout

May 12, 2026

Our new host Ben Jones, Director of Legal & Policy Initiatives, explores the issue of Preschool Pushout. Every year, our youngest learners are pushed out of early childhood education settings through formal expulsions, but much more commonly, they are pushed out by informal means. We hear from two experts and a parent on not only the depth and personal impact of the issue, but how we can make progress in the name of kids."What a tragedy it is, right at very beginning of a child's educatio...

Empowering Voices: Previewing The Children's Mental Health Advocacy Conference

October 03, 2025

In this episode of the CPS Podcast, Dr. Ross Greene and Ben Jones discuss the upcoming Children's Mental Health Advocacy Conference, the current issues in children's mental health advocacy, and the opportunities for community involvement. They highlight recent legislative successes and challenges, particularly regarding corporal punishment and restraint in schools, and emphasize the importance of grassroots advocacy efforts. The conversation underscores the need for continued advocacy and leg...

Are the Kids OK?

July 01, 2025

Check out the May 2025 episode of the CPS Podcast - Are the Kids OK?   Dr. Ross Greene and Dr. Nirav Shaw explore the question “Are the kids ok?” by unpacking the rising stressors kids face in a rapidly changing world, from social media and school shootings to shifting social roles, while reminding us that many kids are still doing well. They emphasize that mental health struggles are human responses to stress and that it’s hard to pin down single causes, given the layered and nuanced nature ...