"How to talk policy and influence people": a Law and Justice interview with Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz

Jane and Rebecca - This is a powerful interview/conversation filled with insight and truth.

Rebecca, you always give me pause with your "take" on situations. I learn so much from you with regard to what is important to people we hope to help. First and foremost, you have a "lived experience" understanding of their greatest fears and what happens when policy shifts cause catastrophic problems.

For example, your saying that what is on the hearts and minds of most people in poverty is holding onto their kids. That is so logical. And yet for people with white privilege, with class privilege, that is not necessarily the first thing that comes to mind, because we don't have to worry about having our children put in to the "system." But for many poor people, who are in overwhelm and powerlessness, losing their kids is the top concern, because they believe they don't have the power to keep their kids. For someone who is poor and is a drug addict, who loves her children but cannot ask for help for fear of losing her children, this is paralyzing. After hearing you talk about this, I "get it" on a visceral level.

Also, you made a comment about a change in state policy regarding around $300 in funding being cut; money that had been going to single moms. You talked about the jump in children being put into foster care after that money was taken away. $300 didn't seem significant to the legislators or policy people. But to the moms it was the difference between keeping their children or losing them. And the cost of having a child in foster care is  way, way more expensive to the "system" than just helping the moms. Further, the damage done to children in foster care can create adverse childhood experiences, ACEs, that will effect children for the rest of their lives.

Your view from having lived in poverty, and from helping to walk people out of poverty, is one every policy maker in the nation should be hearing. We must forge relationships with people who make policy, as it is the relationship that heals. I am so glad we are working on this together, my friend!

Thank you, Jane and Rebecca, for your care, questions, and answers, on age-old and still timely topics.

Carey

Carey Sipp

SE Regional Community Facilitator

ACEs Connection