Abandoned by their parents, the young children of the Clawson family are put in the care of local authorities. However, rather than being kept together, the siblings are sent to live at different homes. Tenacious Patty Clawson (Melissa Michaelsen) is determined to keep her brothers and sisters together, but the bureaucracy in place makes her quest almost impossible. Aided by social worker Bud Griggs (Chris Sarandon), Patty tries to reunite her family, facing many obstacles along the way.