Give Us Back Our Children

supportnotseparation.blog
Policy & Advocacy, Community Defense, Healing & Wellness
National, Pennsylvania, California

About

Give Us Back Our Children is a multiracial self-help support and action group of mothers, other family members, and supporters formed in 2006 to fight unjust child removals and the sexist, racist, classist and disability-discriminatory policies and practices of the child “welfare” system. We campaign for money and resources for mothers and other caregivers to raise our level of power against the system: take away our poverty, not our children. We are part of the international Support Not Separation network coordinated by the Global Women’s Strike and Women of Color in the GWS. We participate in Support Not Separation’s monthly gatherings outside court the first Wednesday of every month. 

You can reach us at GiveUsBackOurChildren@gmail.com.

Support

  • Policy & Advocacy

    Give Us Back Our Children campaign towards a world that children are not separated from their families due to poverty, domestic violence or drugs, and that provides direct cash and other resources that could help the family to stay together. Contact us at GiveUsBackOurChildren@gmail.com.

  • Community Defense

    As a multiracial collective self-help advocacy and support group of mothers, other family members and supporters organizing against unjust separation, Give Us Back Our Children works with families not for them. A mother (or other family member) threatened with the removal of children is always central in her case as we work together to keep that family united or win reunification, as well as work to change the policy or practice causing the unjust removal. We do intake info on the case; If the impacted family member is ready to fight the case we meet collectively to strategize and what resources might be available and best way to access them. We accompany families into court where courts are open and fight to open courts where they are closed. Contact us at GiveUsBackOurChildren@gmail.com to be connected with us.

  • Healing & Wellness

    Give Us Back Our Children groups meet collectively in cities in which we’re located, offering mutual support to each other as to discuss individual child ‘welfare’ cases. We share information about weekly Mindfulness sessions organized out of the Crossroads Women’s Center in Philadelphia that are also accessible via zoom. Our collective self-help advocacy approach in fighting cases and developing campaigns are based on peer support and input. Those directly impacted provide direction in determining our campaigning and focus. Our groups in different cities meet together, and internationally with our sisters in Support Not Separation in Britain, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, via zoom – this gives us opportunities to share information, strategize with and support each other. Statements are developed and given by those directly impacted, and we work with them on storytelling. When children are separated from relatives who love them we press for them to have in-person time together so bonds are maintained and strengthened. Again people interested in finding out more and/or participating can reach us at GiveUsBackOurChildren@gmail.com.

Connect