Read the Traumatized Child Blog. Use AUOR for 10% Discount at Dream Catcher
Nebraska Safe Haven Law - Child Dumping
Oh mother of God.... The state of Nebraska passed a "Safe Haven" law in July. I really hate these laws because I believe they are band-aids, show pieces. Women in crisis don't need this kind of help. Dead and abandonded babies continue to be found in states with "Safe Haven" laws.
''Safe haven laws, though rooted in magnanimity, have not proven to be effective because they are not designed in such a way that will affect the decisions and actions of those most likely to discard infants," Krall wrote in a recent report, titled ''Discarded Infants and Neonaticide."
Nebraska really screwed up. Their "Safe Haven" law allows any child (anyone under 19 years of age) to be dropped off at a hospital. Seriously... you can just decide you don't want to parent your children and the state will take them. What an awful way to enter foster care. Actually there isn't a good way to enter foster care. But can you image being that child... knowing that you were NOT wanted.
AmyAdoptee pointed out that teenagers were being dropped off under this new law. And now 11 more children were abandoned at Nebraska hospitals. A father dropped off nine of his children who were 1 to 17 years of age. Prior teenagers were dropped off because of "behavior" issues. One child was actually placed into the hospital for evaluation.
16 children have been dumped at hospitals since the July 2008. The state legislature is thinking about changing their law so that only infants (1 year or less) are acceptable for dumping.
Related Links
- Nebraska and Safe Havens
- Baby left at San Marcos fire station
- Adoption News: Editorials Against N.J., Minnesota Open Records Bills (safe haven news)
- Insurance Company Weighs In On Birthmothers
- Finding Me In a Paper Bag: Searching For Both Sides Now
Image Credit: Sabs SHOCKED at Katie's latest antics by emutree
- AngelaW's blog
- Login or register to post comments
They know
The kids who are not wanted know that. Being dropped off at the hospital is not their first inkling that this is a problem. I would argue that it does address situations that will become dangerous or very toxic for the child. Parents who are beyond their limits in parenting have little real help avalible. There really are kids who are simply not going to respond to any type of parenting. There are parents with very limited parenting skills.
I would think they need to tinker with having some type of reunification attempt as part of the drop off. Yes, you can force the family to stay together, but the outcome may be terrible. John
Flipped My Thinking
You have flipped my thinking. Maybe all the "Safe Haven" laws should be changed to include children from birth to 18 years of age.
Hmmmm..... I know too many families destroyed/driven to the edge by severe mental health issues (parents and children).
I believe the state of Nebraska is going to attempt reunification and provide services. So maybe "Safe Haven" should be there for all children.
What would prevent people from using it except in crisis? They would be inviting Child Protection Services into their life. Just dealing with CPS can be punishing sometimes.
AngelaW
The ones that you love the most are usually the ones that hurt you the most. - Unknown
If only
If only my sons could have been 'dumped' (hate that word), so much damage could have been prevented. Yes, CPS did step in, but way down the road. In at least two cases, I am sure the birth parents would have put them into care much sooner. The two cases in the news, seemed like exactly the relief valve that families and kids need. The 15 year old was not answering the helm at all for his guardian, a sign of bad things to come and the 11 year old was hospitalized for evaluation, they don't do that unless they think there is something to evaluate. Neither would have been able to get help without this law.
I agree that knowing there will be contact with CPS is a considerable deterent. John
Dumped, Abandoned, Dropped Off
I struggled with my word choice. Dumped? Abandoned? Left Behind? Unwanted? Dropped Off?
I was trying to pick a more neutral word and couldn't find it. "Dropped off" is something you do to dry cleaning or you "drop off Johnny at school". This was too mild a phrase. And the others are loaded with emotion.
I thought about inventing a work like "havened". I am not sure why I picked dumped over the others.
AngelaW
The ones that you love the most are usually the ones that hurt you the most. - Unknown
Perhaps purchase is an option?
Some grandparents recently purchased their 13 year old granddaughter from her mother for $1200 and the granddaughter knows it. The price started at 73k and was negotiated down. The child is obviously much better off with her GPs. At 13 she is sexually active, has run away, smokes, drinks, and I am not sure what else. I hope her GPs can help her, but it may be too late to make significant changes, especially knowing her own purchase price. She is a beautiful sweet girl with a lot of positive attributes as well.
This law according to me
This law according to me will not be certainly prove to be a fruitful and it is needed the law makers should re consider the law.
-----
sathyan
nebraska drug rehab