Episodes

This episode discusses four concepts that serve as theoretical foundations for Mothers on the Frontline's work.

In this episode, we discuss the origin of Mothers on the Frontline.

Origin story of Mothers on the Frontline

In this episode, we will discuss the Third Principle of the Children’s Mental Health Justice Framework: The lived experiences of children, caregivers, families, and communities matter.

This episode is a deeper dive into the second principle of the Children's Mental Health Justice Framework: Children's Mental Health Justice and Caregiver Justice are mutually dependent.

In this episode, we discuss the first principle of the Children's Mental Health Justice Framework: Children's mental illness, injury, and harms are real and deserving of care.

In this episode, we discuss the Children’s Mental Health Justice (CHMJ) Framework, what it is, and why it is important. We provide an overview of the three CMHJ principles.

Note: This interview was recorded in 2018. Transcription: [music] Welcome to the Mothers on the Frontline Podcast. Mothers on the Frontline is a nonprofit organization, founded and run by mothers of children with mental illness to promote caregiver healing and children’s mental health justice through storytelling. Our vision is a world in which mental health is destigmatized, respected, and prioritized as an integral part of the overall health of individuals, families, and communities. In thi...

This episode of the Conversations Between Friends series was recorded June 29, 2020.

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In this episode we discuss: what it means to be an ally the difference between performative and authentic allyship how allyship differs from friendship and being a coalition partner stigma jumping vs intersectional activism and advocacy Terms: Allyship – An active, consistent, and arduous practice of unlearning and re-evaluating, in which a person in a position of privilege and power seeks to operate in solidarity with a marginalized group and works to ensure equality, opportunity and incl...

In this episode we have a conversation about defunding the police: what it means, what it doesn’t mean, and how the phrase raises different emotions in people depending on their personal experiences with the police and racism. How decades of consistent and pervasive defunding of community programming, healthcare, and education has harmed communities. We focus on the effects for children with disabilities. School Resource officers and police brutality in the schools that specifically targets b...

In this episode, the founders of Mothers on the Frontline discuss grief, racial privilege, policing, and the performativity of emotion. Families and communities are grieving right now. We are grieving the deaths of over 100,000 Americans to Covid-19, which has disproportionately affected Black and Brown communities. We are grieving ongoing and countless losses of African-American Women, Men, and non-binary folk, children to elders, to institutional racism, particularly by the very structures th...

Kate is a mother from Iowa whose children have autism, anxiety, ADHD, sensory processing disorder and prosopagnosia. In this episode, she discusses what it was like when her son was first diagnosed, adjusting each year to new teachers, and what it is like to go through the ups and downs of parenting children who are ‘differently wired’. Transcription [music] Welcome to the Mothers on the Frontline Podcast, episode 28. Mothers on the Frontline is a nonprofit organization, founded and run by mo...

[music] Welcome to Mothers on the Frontline Podcast. Today, as part of our Just Ask Mom Series,we listen to a Mom of a 9 year old diagnosed with ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Anxiety in 2014. [music] Tammy: Tell us a little bit about yourself before or outside of mothering, who are you, what do you love, what do you love to do? Mom: I love yoga. I’m a very fanatic yogi and what has happened with my son has really put me in touch with yoga and with mindfulness so I really like to do...

In this episode, a foster and adoptive parent shares her experience of caring for her biological, adoptive and foster children. Voiceover: Welcome to the Mothers on the Frontline Podcast. Today, as part of our Just Ask Mom series, we listen to a foster and adoptive parent speak about her experience caring for over 100 foster children. Tammy: Hi. So, just tell us a little bit about yourself. Before or outside of mothering, what are your passions, interests? What do you love to do? Interviewee:...

In this episode, Diana shares her experience mothering a 17 year old daughter with anxiety and depression. Mentioned on this episode: NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/ Transcription [music in background] Voiceover: Welcome to the Just Ask Mom podcast where mothers share their experiences of raising children with mental illness. Just Ask Mom is a mother’s on the frontline production. Today we will listen to Diana, an Iowa parent with a 17-year-old daughter with a...

Jill discusses caring for her son whose bipolar disorder surfaced during the teen years. She describes the lack of resources in rural Iowa, the criminalization of mental illness and how that affected her family. She explains how this journey as a mother makes you learn who you are as a person and how strong you can be. Transcription [music] Female Voice: Welcome to the Just Ask Mom podcast where mothers share their experiences of raising children with mental illness. Just Ask Mom is a Mothers ...

In this episode, we listen to Miss Diva from the USA. She speaks about raising a son with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar, ADHD, PTSD, and Seizures in the African-American Community. Please be advised that this interview contains content about domestic abuse and may be upsetting for some audience members. Transcription Women’s Voice: Welcome to the “Just Ask Mom” podcast. Where mothers share their experiences of raising children with mental illnesses. Just Ask Mom is a Mothers on the Frontlin...

In this episode, we listen to Melissa, a mother from rural Iowa, share her story about raising a son with severe depression. Please be advised that this interview discusses suicide and may be triggering for some of our audience. (See below for transcription.) Suicide Resources: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices...

In this episode, we hear from John “Tank” Miller of Delaware. A Family Advocate and father of a 19 year old with mental health challenges, John discusses his mental health advocacy through social media and how he uses “Tank Mentality” to provide those with mental illness encouragement every day. Become part of the Tank Mentality Movement: Follow on Twitter @tankmentality Follow on Facebook: tankmentality/ Transcription Female Voice: Welcome to Ask the Advocate. Where mental health advocates sh...

In this episode, we listen to Andre Minett, a father of two, husband, and social worker. He discusses his experience advocating for foster children and his own experience as a father with a child with health condition. Transcription [background music] Female Speaker: Welcome to “Ask The Advocate” where mental health advocates share their journey to advocacy and what it is meant for their lives. “Ask The Advocate” is a Mothers On The Front Line production. Today we will hear from Andre Mina, a ...

In this episode, we listen to Cheryl who overcame and found the new Cheryl. This mother of three shares her powerful story of overcoming trauma and serious illness to advocate for her children with special needs. Please be advised that this episode contains discussion of sexual abuse and a suicide attempt. Transcription Voiceover: Welcome to the Just Ask Mom Podcast where mothers share their experiences of raising children with mental illness. Just Ask Mom is a Mothers on the Frontline producti...

In this episode, we listen to Suzette Southfox, a Southern California parent of a 19 year-old son with depression, anxiety and Autism Spectrum Disorder. She tells us about her over ten-year journey with children’s mental health. She discusses the importance of honoring the strength of our children and others with depression who fight each day to get out of bed. Transcription Voice Over: Welcome to the Just Ask Mom podcast, where mother shared their experiences of raising children with mental il...