Adoptees Crossing Lines Podcast

Light blue graphic with bold black text reading: “New Mexico’s family policing agency missed another major reform deadline. Children have died or been seriously injured while in state custody — and the agency failed to deliver the data for review.” The bottom corner includes the handle “@adopteescrossinglines.”

Light blue background with bold black text that says: “The Children, Youth & Families Department (CYFD) was ordered to share details on seven deaths and eight near-deaths in state custody. Instead, they provided only initials and limited information.” Smaller text at the bottom reads “Source New Mexico, 2025.” Top corner includes “@adopteescrossinglines.”

Light blue background with bold black text stating: “Agency officials admitted they still don’t have a functioning system to track child deaths.” Bottom text reads: “Source New Mexico, 2025.” The handle “@adopteescrossinglines” appears at the top corner.

Light blue background with bold black text that says: “This isn’t new — it’s part of a national pattern where ‘child protection’ fails the very kids it claims to save. Accountability can’t stop at apologies or leadership changes. Every delay costs lives.” Handle “@adopteescrossinglines” appears at the bottom.

Kids are dying in state custody. The agency’s excuse? “It’s not a system yet.”

#adopteesky

Light blue background with faint teal gradient in the bottom left. Large black text reads: “A new bill in Pennsylvania takes aim at CPS overreach.” Small black text at the bottom says “@adopteescrossinglines.” A thin light teal line runs beneath the text.

Light blue background with faint teal gradient. Black text reads: “The bill (HB1873) would change the legal definitions of abuse and neglect to require proof of willful or reckless disregard for obvious danger. It clarifies that kids doing things alone, like going to the park or store, is not neglect. ‘These cases disrupt families’ lives and cause lasting harm,’ said Mariel Mussack of Community Legal Services.” Small text at the bottom: “@adopteescrossinglines” and “Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 2025.”

Light blue background with faint teal gradient. Black text reads: “Many parents, especially Black, working class, and single mothers, have been investigated for things like leaving a responsible teen home with a younger sibling. Even when cleared, parents can end up on child abuse registries, losing jobs or facing stigma. ‘Families live in fear of being reported for what used to be normal childhood independence.’” Small text at the bottom: “@adopteescrossinglines” and “Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 2025.”

Light blue background with faint teal gradient. Black text reads: “Advocates say this bill is about restoring common sense and dignity to parenting. Lawmakers argue: ‘Kids need freedom. Parents need trust. The state needs to stop calling poverty or independence a crime.’ Ending CPS overreach is one step toward ending family policing.” Small text at the bottom: “@adopteescrossinglines” and “Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 2025.”

Pennsylvania’s HB1873 challenges CPS overreach, clarifying that kids playing outside or walking to school isn’t neglect. Families deserve trust, not surveillance.

#adopteesky

Light blue background. Text reads: “Family policing doesn’t start with ‘rescue.’ It starts with surveillance.” Small text at bottom: “@adopteescrossinglines.” A small blue 3D cube sits in the upper left corner, and a white-and-blue gradient wave icon is in the lower right corner.

Light blue background. Text reads: “Most child kidnappings don’t happen because of abuse, they happen because of poverty. In 2022, more than two thirds of ‘substantiated neglect’ cases were linked to housing instability, food insecurity, or lack of childcare, not physical harm.” Small text at bottom: “@adopteescrossinglines.” Source listed below: “U.S. Children’s Bureau, 2022 Child Maltreatment Report.” Same cube and gradient icons as Slide 1.

Light blue background. Text reads: “When families lack resources, the state calls it ‘neglect.’ But poverty isn’t neglect, it’s a policy choice. Instead of support, families get monitored, tested, and punished for being poor.” Small text: “@adopteescrossinglines.” Blue cube in top left and gradient icon bottom right.

Light blue background. Text reads: “Abolition means reimagining ‘protection’ as care, not control, meeting needs with housing, childcare, and love instead of separation. Families deserve support, not surveillance.” Small text: “@adopteescrossinglines.” Blue cube top left, gradient icon bottom right.

Before foster care, there’s poverty.
Before “neglect,” there’s need.
Before surveillance, there’s struggle.

Families don’t need to be rescued — they need resources, rest, and community care.

#adopteesky

Graphic with a soft blue gradient background. Text reads: “Washington State Pays $9M Settlement. Ashley Miller: abused countless times in Pierce County foster care.” In the top left corner is the handle @adopteescrossinglines. A small black star icon is in the top right corner. Citation is at the bottom: Talbot, P. (2025, September 30)

Graphic with a soft blue gradient background. Text reads: “What went wrong?” followed by four bullet points: “No 90-day check ins (500+ days without visits), 50+ school absences ignored, Caregiver’s boyfriend with criminal convictions allowed in the home, State endorsed adoption despite red flags.” Handle @adopteescrossinglines is at the top left; small black star icon in the bottom right. Citation is at the bottom.

Graphic with a soft blue gradient background. Large centered quote reads: “I was scared. I was confused… I was told this is normal.” Beneath, smaller text says: “Ashley Miller says she was robbed of her childhood, but today she speaks out to ensure foster youth are not dismissed as ‘throwaways.’” Handle @adopteescrossinglines is in the top left; small black star icon in the bottom right. Citation is at the bottom.

Graphic with a soft blue gradient background. Text reads: “Why this matters:” followed by three bullet points: “The state enabled years of abuse, No criminal conviction tied to her case, Survivors like Ashley remind us: children in the system deserve safety, dignity, and to be heard.” Handle @adopteescrossinglines is at the top left; small black star icon in the bottom right. Citation is at the bottom.

WA will pay $9M to Ashley Miller, who was abused “countless times” in Pierce Co. foster care. Her case shows systemic issues, ignored check ins, absences, & red flags. #adopteesky

Thank you for holding space while I paused. 🩵 This work is still alive. And I’m glad you’re here.

Very very true. Are there any that stand out in particular for you?

Excited to hear your thoughts!

I’m back ✨ and I’ve got something exciting to share!

Next season will feature a mini series on adoption in the media 🎬. My editor and friend (@itsjway.bsky.social) will be joining me as we unpack how adoption shows up in movies, TV — the good, the bad, and the messy in between.

Would yall tune in to a special series where I’m dissecting themes of adoption / family policing in the media with a cohost? 👀

Flyer for a virtual teach-in titled “Breaking binaries: Queer Abolitionist Dreamscapes of Bodily Autonomy,” part 3 of a 5-part “Breaking Silos in Reproductive Justice” series. The event takes place on June 17 from 12:30–2:00 PM PT. Speakers include Zaira (she/her), Sadé (they/them), Hailey (she/her), and a mama-daughter duo: Ashley (she/her) and Tyonni (she/her). The flyer features headshots of each speaker inside circular frames against a pink and peach gradient background. At the bottom are logos for Berkeley Law’s Center on Reproductive Rights and Justice, Elephant Circle, If/When/How, and Movement for Family Power. RSVP link provided: linktr.ee/BreakingSilos.

Come on through if you can! 🫶🏾

A digital note taped at all four corners on a light blue background. The note reads: “At this time, I have to make this page inactive as I’m facing retaliation from my employer. I’ll still be making episodes but I won’t be active.

*NEXT Friday! I misspoke 😅

New episode on Friday with @itsjway.bsky.social reflecting on the Black Mother's March.

#adopteesky

🎙️ 2 episodes left this season! I’ll be back next year—plus launching Patreon (bonus pods + other exclusive content) and Substack to keep the show sustainable. What topics or perks would make them worth your support? Drop ideas 👇🏾

#adopteesky

Two years of no contact and two years of freedom! 🩵

#adopteesky

Wild how some adopters choose adoption but won’t show up for the kids they took in. Feels more like it was about their own needs than actually supporting a child. 🤷🏾‍♀️

Kat’s episode is out now! @kadasaurus.bsky.social

Listen here: pod.link/1651229727

#adopteesky

Adoption is often treated as a means to an end, with adopters frequently continuing to try having biological children because we were never what they truly wanted. Episode drops on Friday with @kadasaurus.bsky.social

#adopteesky

Malcolm X’s Childhood Trauma And The Case For Abolishing Family Policing On what would have been the 100th birthday of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, better known as Malcolm X, writer Josie Pickens discusses the role family policing played in his childhood trauma.

upEND’s Program Director Josie Pickens writes for @newsoneofficial.bsky.social: Malcolm X’s early life—shaped by racist terrorism and family separation—planted the seeds of his radicalism. He saw through the lie of state benevolence.

newsone.com/6165220/malc...

Adoption is built on secrecy, deception, and cruel lies. This episode with @kadasaurus.bsky.social comes out on Friday!

#adopteesky

A crowd of protesters at the Black mothers march in DC holding various signs.

A photo of Amy & Zaira at the Black Mothers March in DC standing in a field before the march started.

A Black woman at the Black mother’s march holding a photo of her grandbaby who was stolen by the family policing system.

A white protest sign at the Black mother’s march with text that reads: abolish concentration campos & legal kidnapping.

Attending the Black Mother’s March for the first time was powerful. As someone who lost both parents, especially my mom, it meant everything to be in community fighting the system that tried to break us. I’ll keep showing up. Black families deserve to stay together. #adopteesky

Yes 🫶🏾

Still taking in this whole weekend for the Black Mother’s March.

I hope to see more adopted folks there next year!

A picture of Zaira standing outside holding a sign that says: the system killed my mom. It tried to kill me. #blackmothersmarch

It was a happy Mother’s Day because I wasn’t alone, I got to honor my mom and I was around people who understand the violence of the family policing system. 🩵

We don't owe gratitude for being adopted! Check out my new episode with Aretha today!

pod.link/1651229727

#adopteesky

Thank you so much for this feedback and support Jonathan! 🩵

I agree with you and I learned a lot in this episode. Are you a kinship adoptee as well?

We should be centering the child when we talk about their adoption. 🤷🏾‍♀️

#adopteesky

Children deserve to be treated with autonomy and respect. This episode with Aretha comes out on Friday!

#adopteesky

New episode dropped today with (itsjway.bsky.social) 🫱🏾‍🫲🏼

pod.link/1651229727

Bright and bold graphic with lime green background and vibrant pink and blue text boxes. At the top, a banner reads “ADOPTEE FILM FEST” with a barcode-style logo. The main message in large blue and pink text reads: “TEAM APPLICATIONS – DEADLINE EXTENSION!” Below that, it states the new deadline: “Friday 4/25, 11:59 PM EST.” Additional text on the right says: “Selection Committees + Volunteer Roles.” The center shows a small “AFF” logo in pink squares.

The Adoptee Film Fest is looking for judges!

Application deadline is extended until tomorrow.

linktr.ee/adopteefilmf...

Anybody else relate? 🙋🏾‍♀️

(@itsjway.bsky.social)

#adopteesky

Stay tuned for this weeks episode with my editor and fellow adoptee (@itsjway.bsky.social) 🤷🏾‍♀️ 🤷🏾‍♀️ 🤷🏾‍♀️

#adopteesky