150 Days

WOUB Public Media
  • 4.2 (5)
  • DOCUMENTARY
  • WEEKLY SERIES

Theresa Fogel moves with her four children to a small town in rural Ohio, hoping for a fresh start. Instead, unsubstantiated allegations of abuse prompt the local child welfare agency to take her children. As Theresa struggles to regain custody, she discovers what critics call the dark secret of child welfare: that your children can be taken for reasons the state may never have to prove, and getting them back is anything but guaranteed.

Season 1

  1. EPISODE 1

    The removal

    On the first episode of 150 days, we meet Theresa Fogel at the moment her family is blown apart by accusations of child abuse and neglect — accusations Theresa strenuously denies. Theresa has moved to the small town of Glouster, Ohio, with her boyfriend and four children in search of a new life away from the drama of the Cincinnati suburb where she grew up. But the drama follows her to her new home, with devastating consequences for Theresa and her kids.

    39 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    The safety plan

    Child welfare agencies are supposed to do everything they can to prevent removals. That includes creating a "safety plan" with the parent's help. Court documents claim Theresa refused a safety plan, but Theresa says the caseworker never even brought one up. A 911 call log raises further questions about how much effort the agency really put into keeping Theresa's family together.

    37 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    The investigation

    Video evidence undermines child protective services' claim of abuse against Theresa. Witnesses call other allegations into question. Theresa might have used this to convince the judge to give her kids back — if she'd only had a lawyer representing her at her first hearing. As it turns out, she's not the only parent with this problem.

    34 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    Rylenn and Everly

    Theresa's two daughters go to a foster home in Muskingum County, over an hour away from Glouster. Their description of the home immediately sets off warning bells for Theresa. When the agency appears to ignore her concerns, she takes matters into her own hands.

    39 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    The deal

    Theresa is eager to fight the agency in court, but she doesn't sense the same enthusiasm from her court-appointed lawyer. The stakes are high: If she wins her next hearing, the case is over and her kids come home. But some vague wording in an Ohio law threatens her efforts before she even enters the courtroom.

    45 min

  6. EPISODE 6

    Azriel

    Theresa's younger son Azriel goes back to Butler County to live with his aunt. His condition deteriorates rapidly, and he begins expressing thoughts of suicide. Theresa tries desperately to arrange therapy for him, but the agency appears to be dragging its heels. When it finally does act, the result is anything but what Theresa hoped.

    40 min

  7. EPISODE 7

    Changing the system

    Theresa's story isn't unique. Across the U.S., parents like her — the overwhelming majority poor, a disproportionate number nonwhite — are torn from their children long before other options are exhausted. The checks and balances that should protect them fail. On this episode, experts both local and national weigh in on how we can do better.

    46 min

  8. EPISODE 8

    What was accomplished?

    On the final episode of 150 days, we look at what happens to Theresa after her involvement with child protective services concludes. Families are supposed to leave the child welfare system better than they were when they arrived. But can that really be said for Theresa or her children?

    26 min
  • 8 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

4.2
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Theresa Fogel moves with her four children to a small town in rural Ohio, hoping for a fresh start. Instead, unsubstantiated allegations of abuse prompt the local child welfare agency to take her children. As Theresa struggles to regain custody, she discovers what critics call the dark secret of child welfare: that your children can be taken for reasons the state may never have to prove, and getting them back is anything but guaranteed.

Information

  • Creator
    WOUB Public Media
  • Episodes
    8
  • Seasons
    1
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024 WOUB Public Media
  • Show Website
    150 Days