Battered Women, Abused Children, and Child Custody:

A National Crisis

Seventh Annual Conference

January 8th - 10th 2010   Albany, New York

For additional information, conference registration, special hotel rate, etc., visit www.batteredmotherscustodyconference.org

Children Taken By the Family Courts Hand Prints Project

In addition to the “Children Taken by the Family Courts Quilt”, this year the Battered Mothers Custody Conference will host a new project that will display cut out handprints representing children who have been taken by the family courts. 

We are asking mothers who have lost custody to create handprints that will be hung on clothesline to commemorate their lost children.  The Hand Prints project is modeled after the AIDS quilt that was started in 1987 and that has since grown tremendously, gaining wide publicity for the cause of combating AIDS and HIV infection.

Materials will be provided at the conference for mothers to work on this project.  However, attendance at the conference is not necessary to participate.  Handprints may be mailed in advance or brought to the conference (see instructions below). 

If it is not possible to trace children’s handprints, please trace YOUR (the mother’s) handprints for each child lost through the courts.

Instructions: 

Trace and cut out your child’s (or your) handprints (left and right) on colored poster board paper.

On the front of your handprints, please write:

First name(s) and last initial(s) of the child(ren) of whom you lost custody as a result of family or divorce court proceedings.

The child(ren)’s date of birth and the county and state of the court system through which you lost custody.

The month and year you lost custody of your child(ren).

Any drawings, artwork, or items that make the handprints meaningful to you.

On the back of each individual hand print, please write YOUR full name, phone number, physical address, and e-mail address.

Please also take the time to write a statement about your child(ren) and briefly describe how you lost custody. Please also include your full name, phone number, physical address, and e-mail address.

Before Jan. 2, 2010, please mail handprints to:

Linda Marie Sacks

P.O. Box 730966

Ormond Beach, FL 32173

After Jan. 2, 2010, please mail handprints to:

BMCC 2010

26 Purtell Avenue

Latham NY 12110

mhannah413@aol.com       518-210-2487