Overloaded: Understanding Neglect

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Overloaded: Understanding Neglect explores the complex crisis of child neglect and family separation in America, where 37% of all US children experience a Child Protective Services investigation and nearly 70% of children in foster care are separated from their families due to neglect.
Hosted by Luke Waldo, Director of Program Design and Community Engagement at the Institute for Child and Family Well-being, this podcast builds a shared understanding of neglect as a preventable public health crisis. Through conversations with national and local research and policy experts, inspiring changemakers, and lived experience leaders, we examine the forces that overload families - from poverty and social isolation to systemic racism and institutional failures - and explore innovative pathways toward solutions.
Across four seasons, we've journeyed from understanding the problem to identifying Critical Pathways - Economic Stability, Social Connectedness, Community Collaboration, and Workforce Inclusion and Innovation - from transforming systems to examining the stories that shape our beliefs and actions. Each season builds on the last as part of the Strong Families, Thriving Children, Connected Communities initiative, bringing together those who know these issues best to reimagine how we support families and prevent the separations that tear them apart.
We believe neglect is preventable. Join us as we work together to change the conditions and improve the odds for children and families to thrive.