Fighting for Family
December 11, 1992 - An MPR report, titled "Fighting for Family," brings an inside look at family preservation and at one family's struggle to stay together.
What is the cost of keeping a troubled family together compared to the cost of splitting up the family? There are hundreds of thousands of children in this country living in foster homes away from their parents. Foster care has been part of the formula used to "fix" troubled families since the turn of the century. But is it the best method? Is it cost effective? What is the emotional price paid by family members forced to live apart from each other? These are questions being asked by social workers, judges and elected officials who must apportion money to pay for solutions to the growing number of neglect and abuse cases being reported each year. As an alternative to foster care, some people in the child welfare system are raising the banner for what is called family preservation. Its advocates say that family preservation holds great promise for families who want to remain together and work out their problems.
Program is narrated by Vertamae Grosvenor
Received First Place, National Sigma Delta Chi Award: Public Service category.