After noting that 300,000 children in the United States are in foster care, the narrator describes 2 causalities of the system: Frank, who entered New York City's foster care system at age 7 and emerged at 18 unable to read or find a job; and Johnny, placed in Los Angeles' foster care facility at age 4 after being severely abused by a stepfather and then separated from his twin brother and a younger sibling. Three examples of good foster care are shown: one black woman in an inner city neighborhood; an older couple with a grown family of their own who now train other foster parents; and an independent living program in Arizona which takes older boys and teaches them basic living skills such as cooking, maintaining a bank account, and completing job applications. The narrator concludes that two elements are needed to help children in the foster care system: a change in rules and more foster homes.