Cara, a prison educator, learns that her mom Jo spent 2 years in a training school as a youth - a secret hid in shame for 4 decades.

Cara follows the impact of this experience on Jo into her own life, and into the lives and families of other survivors.

Cara learns that the story of training schools

is intimately entwined with the origins of child welfare

and the social work profession, ultimately asking:

What is behind our treatment of poor children in society?