ASFA, TPR, My Life, My Children, My Motherhood
ASFA, TPR, My Life, My Children, My Motherhood
In 1997, as a thirty-seven-year-old single mother, the author of this chapter was arrested for the sale of ten dollars worth of crack to an undercover detective, and she had just given birth to her fourth child. Her brother picked up the new baby from the hospital, presumably to care for her until the author was released six months later, but upon release she returned to drug use. Her other children had been distributed among relatives; two of them had tested positive for drugs at birth. Though the author was on Rikers Island for five months, she was only allowed two visits with her children. The Administration for Children's Services worker told her that she did not relish bringing the children for prison visits because the procedures were so difficult. In this chapter, the author shares her thoughts about her life in prison, her children, motherhood, the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, and termination of parental rights.
Keywords: Rikers Island, prison, children, motherhood, Adoption and Safe Families Act, termination of parental rights, Administration for Children’s Services, prison visits
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