Reflecting on an eye-opening first season of ‘A Flourishing Start’
New podcast focused on early childhood mental health features crucial conversations that are equally engaging and informative
By Esmeralda Cortez Rosales, host of ‘A Flourishing Start’
During my junior high years, I became well acquainted with my school’s suspension and expulsion processes — along with the stress and confusion that often surround them. In the years since then, I’ve also had close ties to school disciplinary issues through familial, community and professional relationships.
Despite all this, I was shocked and even rattled to learn that preschoolers, typically 5 years old or younger, also experience these traumatizing disciplinary practices — often for simply behaving as preschoolers do.
Learning about the vulnerabilities these young children and their families face — and learning it alongside a dedicated advocate who personally helped me when I was a student, no less — was one of many eye-opening discussions I’ll take away from the first season of “A Flourishing Start,” a podcast produced by the National Center for Youth Law that focuses on supporting the mental and emotional health of children ages 0 to 5 and their caregivers.
I entered this journey of building “A Flourishing Start,” my first experience as a podcast host, unsure of what to expect. After completing our first five-episode season, filled with conversations that were equal parts enlightening and engaging, I can honestly say I’m blown away. It has been great meeting, and reconnecting with, so many amazing parents and professionals and seeing the incredible community of compassion and support that has grown from our project.
Here are some of my reflections and personal highlights from our first season (available on Youtube, Spotify and Apple) with episode links for anyone who’d like to give a listen (or re-listen):
Infuriating data:
In Episode 5 (“There’s no such thing as a bad child”), guest Sara Guillermo, the CEO of IGNITE (and an advocate who stood up for me and helped me productively channel my feelings when I went through my own struggles as a student), shared her journey as an educator, youth organizer and foster parent. She also shared in my shock over learning that not only can preschoolers get expelled, but their expulsion rates are three times those for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. “It’s like literally our worst nightmare,” said Sara, who has sat in on many suspension meetings — including my own — and has seen first-hand the effects that suspensions and expulsions can have on children and families.
Stunning science:
In Episode 4 (“Intergenerational Trauma: Healing & Growing Together”), guest Danielle, an early childhood clinical coordinator for Pacific Clinics, shared details of a study showing that the emotional health of a mother during pregnancy can profoundly affect her baby. This entire conversation reinforced the need for more focus on, and general awareness of, how stress, depression, and anxiety can alter the placenta’s protective role.
The struggle is real:
In Episode 3 (“The Balancing Act: Family Well-Being, Policies, and More”), guest Edith, a mother of two, described the relatable experience of struggling to find appropriate mental health care for her daughter. What made Edith’s story different from most is she actually works in healthcare. Even with her background, though, Edith spent years navigating school and insurance systems and coming up short before finally finding resources to help her daughter. “I’m just so thankful I had people to navigate the system with me and that I had a little bit of knowledge, based on my career,” Edith shared. “But I feel for everybody else that doesn’t have that knowledge, or that have language barriers, or that come from communities where resources aren’t readily available. … I’m making [early childhood health access] my fight moving forward … so that these kids can become healthy adults and thrive.”
Creating connections:
While Episode 2 (“Empowering Early Childhood Well-Being: The Community’s Role”) featured important conversations around the roles that community and extended family can play in a young child’s well-being, the discussion didn’t end at the conclusion of the episode. I was honored and thrilled to later meet in-person with guests Mya Whitaker, a single mother and executive director of the Bay Area Urban Debate League, and Dr. Rhea Boyd, a mother, pediatrician and senior advisor at the California Children’s Trust. Building community is a top goal of the podcast, and I’m proud to be part of cultivating these connections.
Strong debut:
In our debut Episode 1 (“Nurturing Young Minds: Insights Into Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health”), guests Cindy, a mother and healthcare professional, and Kathryn Hallinan Aguilar, a mother and licensed marriage and family therapist, set the stage for a strong season with helpful tips and advice around understanding early childhood mental health care, breaking generational patterns and the important role that dyadic — or whole family — care plays in early childhood development.
Thank you to all our guests and listeners who helped make this first season such a memorable, uplifting and informative experience. We appreciate all the support and invite suggestions for topics to explore in future episodes/seasons. Please stay tuned for information regarding a second season, during which we can hopefully continue to grow and build awareness and supports for the youngest people in our lives.
Esmeralda Cortez Rosales is a Community Policy Associate at the National Center for Youth Law and leads the organization’s efforts to improve infant and early childhood mental health for children 0 to 5 years old across California. Esmeralda works with parents, caregivers, community leaders, and advocates to develop and implement community-based work that centers children and families.
