In the Best Interest of the Children

Plot

The story begins as Callie Cain, accompanied by her boyfriend Ray Jacobs and four young daughters with another child on the way, drives into Estherville, Iowa, while everyone sings along to a John Denver song. Her brother John and his wife Wanda try to lend a hand, but Ray, who is the father of the youngest child, refuses to work and is abusive. Callie also rejects Wanda’s advice to keep up with treatment for her bipolar disorder. Soon the family is living in poverty, and the oldest daughter, Jessi, ends up caring for her younger siblings.

Ray eventually abandons them, and Callie’s condition worsens. Worried, Wanda contacts child welfare, and a social worker named Donna Evans visits the home. Callie initially tries to avoid her but later agrees to get treatment, though she insists that John and Wanda not be given custody. Instead, the children go to live with Patty and Harlan Pepper.

The kids do well there and start calling the Peppers “Mom” and “Dad.” Seeing how much the children suffer after required hospital visits with Callie, Patty becomes set on adopting them. A bitter custody fight follows, lasting two years and drawing heavy media attention because the legal system seems unable to decide what truly serves the children’s welfare.

Did You Know?

• As a result of the public consciousness raised by the real-life Cain children's experience, the Iowa State Legislature subsequently enacted new laws regarding the rights of foster children.
• The children themselves were subsequently adopted by their aunt and uncle.
• The children continued to visit their mother frequently, though she was still battling mental illness.