With thousands of children currently in the foster care system, Lifetime brings together multiple organizations to raise awareness and provide more information about adoption and foster care in a new PSA, to debut during the premiere of the inspiring movie, I Am Somebody’s Child: The Regina Louise Story. Moved by Regina Louise and her harrowing story navigating the broken system, Bishop T.D. Jakes has joined the movie as an executive producer to bring additional attention to the need for foster care reform.
Premiering Easter Weekend on Saturday, April 20th at 8pm ET/PT, the film stars Ginnifer Goodwin and newcomer Angela Fairley alongside Kim Hawthorne, Sherri Saum and Monique Coleman. I Am Somebody’s Child: The Regina Louise Story tells the journey of a young African American girl (Fairley) who navigated over 30 foster homes and psychiatric facilities before age 18, and the one woman, Jeanne (Goodwin), who believed in her. After Jeanne’s unsuccessful attempt to adopt Regina due to a racially motivated ruling, their bond is forced apart. I Am Somebody’s Child is Regina’s story of how one woman’s belief and love becomes her lifeline as she defeated the odds of a corrupt system and succeeded. 25 years later, Jeanne is finally able to adopt Regina in the same courthouse that denied them previously.
Howard Braunstein, Yvonne Chotzen, T.D. Jakes, Derrick Williams, and Goodwin executive produce the movie. Co-executive producers are Andrea Buchanan and Regina Louise. Janice Cooke directs from a teleplay by Camille Thomasson, based on the books Somebody’s Someone and Someone has Led this Child to Believe by Regina Louise.
On April 17 in Los Angeles, Lifetime and Better Youth will host a special screening of the movie with cast for youth in foster care, their caregivers, guests from CASA LA and other organizations at The LA Film School. Before the screening, a panel will take place featuring special guest panelists and the young filmmakers of Real to Reel Global Youth Film Festival, a Better Youth community-based platform and production internship track that activates an enterprising cohort of youth to forge alliances with a peer group of international professionals.
More information on the organizations Lifetime has partnered with can be found on https://www.mylifetime.com/movies/i-am-somebodys-child-theregina-louise-story/pages/i-am-somebodys-child-resources.
One of the best movies I have seen LOVE<< LOVE <<LOVE keep your box of,,, oh just get a towel you will need it
I am disappointed that she is advocating for the foster care system, because in my view it allows a dysfunctional system to continue. What stood out to me in this story is that the counselor was not allowed to adopt her, yet it was considered acceptable to send her to a nicer psychiatric hospital with mostly white patients qnd staff. I also question the role of the supervisor in this case—a Black woman—and what incentive or “kickback” might have influenced that referral.
I strongly oppose this system. My own family was affected when my sister was placed into foster care after a head injury, something that was legally justified under provisions connected to the 1935 Social Security Act, which allowed the identification of a “disabled child.” In my opinion, some psychiatric facilities create or exaggerate disabilities so children can be categorized this way and federal funding can be received. That level of corruption is hard to describe—“disgust” is not strong enough.
A mother who has a complicated pregnancy can end up targeted by the system through no fault of her own, and the consequences can destroy her life and her family. Because of experiences like this, I am disappointed to see someone who came out of the system advocating for it. I believe lawmakers should seriously consider dismantling it altogether.
Disabled adults are not removed from their homes. Seniors are not taken from their houses simply because they are vulnerable. Children should not be treated differently. Although this particular story involves a teen mother, many situations are more like my family’s experience: complicated pregnancies, disabilities, and sometimes diagnoses that appear to be created so institutions can receive federal funding.
I will never forget the social worker assigned to my sister’s case who opposed the placement. She told the others involved that what they were doing amounted to “legal kidnapping.” She even referenced the Bible, saying that if you read the book of Exodus, kidnapping is clearly condemned. She refused to participate because she believed it was morally wrong. I have never forgotten that, and I believe she was right.
One of the most moving stories and Regina Louise is a remarkable woman. I share information about her, the movie, her books, and the foster care system. So happy that Regina and her Mother are together again.
HOLY S@#$…WHAT A TEAR JERKER!!!!
I really love this movie it always gets to me and I want it on Dvd
Enjoyed the movie but was saddened by the court that denied her the one woman who wanted to adopt her and their beautiful shared love was denied. Absolutely heartbreaking and tragic. What a beautiful, courageous, and accomplished woman Regina is!
Foster Care should be about, what is best for the child, no more no less!