Episode 8 - A Roadmap for Every Child: The Heart of Parenting and Advocacy

Episode 8 - A Roadmap for Every Child: The Heart of Parenting and Advocacy

From The Only Adult In The Room by The Only Adult in The Room

May 18, 2026 · 36 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the importance of developmental screenings and early intervention for children, highlighting barriers families face and the urgent need for action.

In this episode of The Only Adult in the Room , hosts Lindsay and Suzan sit down with Debra and Makayla from The Children’s Movement of Florida to discuss the critical landscape of developmental screenings and early intervention. As they travel across the state, the team shares sobering insights into why "screening is abundant, but diagnosis is not" The conversation dives deep into the barriers families face, including long waitlists for Medicaid providers, the stigma surrounding labels, and the daunting complexity of navigating healthcare systems. You’ll hear about the "sobering" reality that 75% of children who enter kindergarten behind their peers may never catch up, highlighting the urgent need for intervention within the first five years. From innovative "impact networks" to the role of local municipalities in solving childcare deserts, this episode is a call to action for parents, educators, and policy-makers to prioritize kindergarten readiness for all children.

People in this episode

Hosts: Lindsay, Suzan

Guests: Debra, Makayla

Topics covered

  • developmental screenings
  • early intervention
  • kindergarten readiness
  • healthcare systems
  • childcare deserts

Keywords

  • developmental screenings
  • early intervention
  • kindergarten readiness
  • healthcare barriers
  • childcare deserts

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Children’s Movement of Florida

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