SSB Film Screening: Mothers of Bedford

Presented by the Ethical NYC Social Service Board.

Many parents find it hard to imagine being away from a child for a week. Now, imagine being separated for 10 or 20 years. Mothers of Bedford explores the effects of a long-term prison sentence on the mother-child relationship:

Filmmaker Jenifer McShane spent four years following five incarcerated mothers at the New York maximum-security penitentiary, Bedford Hills Correctional Facility She interviewed them, their children and other family members, the children’s caregivers, and prison employees and volunteers.

Eighty percent of women in US prisons today are mothers of school-age children. McShane’s documentary depicts the stresses that prison places on a family while also painting a beautiful picture of the power of a mother’s unconditional love as they take parenting classes, enroll in in-prison education, phone in for parent-teacher conferences, spend time with their kids at the prison’s Children’s Center. We see the struggles and joys these women face as prisoners and mothers.

Following the film, the Social Service Board’s Bonnie Bean and Marlene Williamson will lead a discussion about the effects of incarceration on parents and children.

Visit our website to learn more about the Social Service Board, including their Televisiting Program that helps children maintain contact with an incarcerated family member. While not a replacement for in-person visits, the program provides another option for families to help alleviate children’s separation trauma.

Premiere screening on Wednesday, April 20 at 5:00pm.

COVID-19 Notice: Proof of COVID-19 vaccination, photo ID, and mask are required to attend.

Watch the trailer for Mothers of Bedford: