Come to a Community Dialogue and Speak Out

Mothers ROC!

Reclaiming Our Children from DHS
Monday November 12, 6-9pm
Tabernacle United Church
3701 Chestnut St. Philadelphia PA 

Across the US, families are losing custody of children – that is, children are losing their families – at an alarming rate – Philly’s rate among the highest.  Instead of helping with housing, childcare, legal needs, or abuse, DHS (Dept of Human Services) takes kids particularly from families that are poor, of color, young, older, alternative, though most kids are far better off & safer with them than in foster care.  Groups & individuals are challenging this state-sponsored child abuse with pickets, lawsuits, lobbying & other protests.  Be part of this dialogue, & get involved!

Speak Out - add your voice!

Mothers, kinship caregivers, youth & others hit by DHS policies, as well as foster parents, social workers & others who oppose this punishment of poverty.  POVERTY IS NOT A CRIME!

with Bernadette Blount  Parent Organizer, Child Welfare Org. Project, NYC.

"Why are so many families of color in child welfare?"Ms. Blount had a two-year struggle to reunite her own family.

and Richard Wexler 
Nat’l Coalition for Child Protection Reform, Wash DC
"Stop the Panic; Open the Doors” A nationally recognized expert, Mr Wexler has testified in Phila and Congress on reforms

and Selma James 
Intl Coordinator,  Global Women’s Strike & founder, Intl Wages for Housework Campaign from London England "Valuing Caring Work & Opposing Racism & Non-Profit Profiteering”

that keep families together and reduce child abuse deaths.

* Fact – Black children are more likely to be taken from their homes, to stay in protective custody longer and never to return to their parents.  (Cincinnati Post)
* Fact – 30% of foster children could be home right now if their parents had decent housing   (Nat’l Coalition for Child Protection Reform - NCPR)
* Fact – Out of every 1000 children in their jurisdiction, Phila removes 40 from their homes – Chicago removes 6.  (NCPR)             

Event open
to the public.

Donations welcome!

Wheelchair accessible.

Childcare available –

call ahead if possible.

Food 

Sponsored by Every Mother is a Working Mother Network 215-848-1120  philly@crossroadswomen.net
Co-sponsored by: Families for Justice; DHS: Give us Back Our Children; Global Women's Strike; Payday men’s network.
Join the weekly picket outside DHS 16^th & Arch Thursdays 3-5pm Families for Justice 215-806-7593  justice1peace@yahoo.com Sign a petition on back or online www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/364936228

Supported in part by a grant from the First Presbyterian Church in Germantown

WE THE UNDERSIGNED SUPPORT THE MOTHERS’ DEMANDS FOR:

·        Immediate custody rights

·        Access to good and accountable legal representation

·        Public investigation of how these and other cases are handled

·        Opening up courtrooms for reporters and others to see the proceedings first hand. 

·        DHS to prioritize protection and reunification of families

·        Providing mothers with financial support, housing, childcare day or night, family centered drug treatment on demand, legal and other help to keep families together

·        End the run-around and prolonging of cases while at the same time giving mothers the time they need to meet DHS goals

·        End discrimination on the basis of race, sexism, poverty, age, disability, immigration status, sexual preference and other blatant discrimination

·        Mothers must have the right to speak before the blue ribbon panel that reviews DHS policies and procedures

·        Mothers must not be forced to choose between homelessness or staying with an abusive partner – either way they may lose custody & the child is hurt

·        When childcare arrangements fall through or when children are sick, mothers must not be forced to choose between caring at home and getting fired, or leaving their children alone or with inadequate care 

Or sign the petition online: www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/364936228

Being poor is not a crime!!! Poverty does not equal neglect!!!  Poverty is the state’s neglect of children and the lack of value for women’s caring work!!! Every Mother is a Working Mother!!!