In this episode of My Cotton Patch Moment, I sit down with Amy Ard, the executive director of Motherhood Beyond Bars. This organization is rewriting the narrative for incarcerated mothers, their children, and caregivers. Amy’s journey into this work began with one unforgettable—and heartbreaking—moment: witnessing a woman give birth while shackled to a hospital bed. That image sparked a mission that would change laws, build support networks, and offer real hope to families facing unthinkable challenges.

Amy shares how Motherhood Beyond Bars provides holistic family support, from childbirth education inside prisons to supplying diapers for caregivers on the outside. We talk about the reality that every baby in their program is born with two adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): an incarcerated parent and separation from their primary caregiver within days of birth. Through advocacy, education, and direct aid, her team works to preserve and strengthen those fragile parent-child bonds.

We also explore Amy’s wish list for systemic change, which starts with diverting mothers from prison into treatment—addressing the root causes of incarceration, such as trauma and substance use disorders, rather than simply punishing. From anti-shackling legislation in Georgia to groundbreaking research with Harvard on the impact of incarceration on infants, Amy’s story is a testament to the power of action, compassion, and relentless advocacy.

This conversation will open your eyes to the hidden ripple effects of imprisonment—and inspire you to see justice not as punishment, but as restoration.

Three Key Takeaways:

1. Justice Must Be Restorative: We need alternatives to incarceration for mothers, especially when root causes like trauma and addiction go unaddressed.

2. Connection Is Survival: Maintaining the bond between incarcerated mothers and their children is essential for breaking generational cycles of incarceration.

3. Support Changes Outcomes: From diapers to legal advocacy, targeted support can stabilize families and protect children from lifelong trauma.

Find Amy Ard in these places:

Motherhood Behind Bars

Website: https://www.motherhoodbeyond.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motherhoodbeyondbars/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodbeyondbars/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@motherhoodbeyondbars3544

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This podcast is hosted by Mildred J. Mills. Mildred writes raw and poignant stories describing monumental highs and devastating lows as she takes her reader and listener on a journey of laughter and tears. Mildred survived a childhood of picking cotton on her strict, domineering father’s farm and thrived in a male-dominant IT industry for forty years.

You can find Mildred's memoir, "Daddy’s House: A Daughter’s Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs & Rising Above Her Roots" and when her new book, The Hope Club, publishes here.

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If you would love to connect with Mildred, join her in these following spaces:

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The music and sound effects for this episode came from Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe and/or Pixabay. Crackers In Soup is the audio editor and producer for this episode.