Film depicts reality for young parents at risk of having a child taken into care

Animation by Just for Kids Law aims to prompt social workers to consider the frustrations and fears of legal proceedings from the young person’s perspective

“When you’re in care, having a baby is like walking through a door. On the other side, you’re not a kid who can ask for help any more; you’re an unfit mum getting ready to do what’s expected of you – fail.”

For Elise and Jocasta*, this line in a new animated film by children’s advocacy charity Just for Kids Law sets out the reality for young people who become pregnant while in foster care and discover their baby is at risk of being removed. Both women advised on the storyline and scripting of the film, drawing on the frustrations and fears they experienced while going through care proceedings themselves.

Related: Family courts are a revolving door for too many parents | Paul Burstow

They usually go into these meetings with no one and are entirely ill-prepared for what’s ahead

Related: How to stop record numbers of children going into care? Help their mothers | Louise Tickle

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from Children | The Guardian http://ift.tt/2jRWHM1