An HBO Documentary Looks at the Good in the Foster Care System

Earcylene Beavers always wanted a lot of children, and she got her wish--just not the way she expected. Beavers, who's in her 60s, gave birth to a daughter, but has mothered more children than she can count through the foster system. She currently has four at home, including one of the three she adopted, Jake, who has cerebral palsy.

While the rate of child maltreatment has dropped in the past 30 years, U.S. child-protection authorities still get about 4 million calls a year.

Earcylene Beavers always wanted a lot of children, and she got her wish--just not the way she expected. Beavers, who's in her 60s, gave birth to a daughter, but has mothered more children than she can count through the foster system. She currently has four at home, including one of the three she adopted, Jake, who has cerebral palsy. While the rate of child maltreatment has dropped in the past 30 years, U.S. child-protection authorities still get about 4 million calls a year.