Since America’s war on drugs mandatory sentencing law in 1986, incarceration of women has skyrocketed 400% and 800% for African American women. 80% of women in prison have substance abuse problems. 66% of incarcerated women have minor children.
Mothers who seek drug rehab, face a ‘Sophie’s choice’ dilemma with few options for treatment that includes childcare. When a child is removed to foster care, they become unintended victims bouncing from foster home to foster home and may age out as legal orphans. Only 20% of mothers reunify with their children in the foster care system.