DHS – Give Us Back Our Children

Producer: Every Mother is a Working Mother Network

The film follows three women up against the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, as mothers and supporters come together to reclaim children unjustly placed in foster care. "DHS: Give Us Back Our Children" is both the name of the film and of the self-help group they work with, as well as their demand. Through moving stories, plus statistics and interviews with experts, former social workers and activists, the film reveals a multi-million dollar child welfare industry that devalues the maternal bond, penalizes poor families, disproportionately removes children of color and traumatizes children -- and the tremendous struggle being made to reunite families and change the system. Made by the women involved as part of Scribe Video's "Community Visions" program, this is their story in their own words and produced by their own hands.

Every Mother is a Working Mother Network is a multi-racial grassroots volunteer network based in Philadelphia at the Crossroads Women's Center in Germantown. Formed in 2001 by welfare mothers and supporters to oppose punitive welfare reform legislation, EMWM works for recognition and payment of caring work. EMWM coordinates the self-help group "DHS - Give Us Back Our Children", challenging the unjust removal of children from their families by the state, usually for reason of poverty and disproportionately from communities of color. In 2009, EMWM was chosen by Scribe Video for its "Community Visions" program to make the film we are submitting, our first.