Wednesday, 26 November 2008
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Is the Safe Haven Law Working?
Guest post submitted by The_Prestigiator
According to CNN, Nebraska officials are concerned about parents rushing to drop their teenage children off at hospitals before lawmakers change their mind on the "safe haven" law.
The "safe haven" law was issued mainly for the sake of parents to anonymously hand over infants to hospitals instead of dumping them off on someone's doorstep or in the trash. Nevertheless, the law currently has no age limit and parents all over Nebraska are abusing the system by leaving their teenagers at hospitals. The article stated that "of the 34 children who have been dropped off at hospitals not one has been an infant."
State Senator Tom White categorized this behavior as an "extraordinary cry for help" and Nebraska is unable to afford care for the tremendous number of children (6,600 according to the Department of Health and Human Services to be exact) that have been left behind.
To leave your son or daughter in such an eager hurry is unfathomable. Personally, I don't agree with the law and think it's a lame attempt at trying to okay child abandonment. It enforces emotional pain, psychological consequences, and irresponsibility. If my mom left me at a hospital like that and then fled I would be horrified and scarred for life. This isn't a joke law and I seriously hope lawmakers amend the law so that it features an age limit because this is honestly disgusting and ridiculous. It really highlights a lot about parenting issues in the US. Sadly, as is exemplified by this article, we don't only have an economic crisis on our hands.
Am I the only who feels this way? What do you make of the Safe Haven Law?
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Comments (15)
I DO think the safe haven law is a good thing, in the case of newborns. I do not agree with people choosing to take care of their child from birth on and then just tossing them to the side like a pair of shoes that are no longer comfortable. I cant fathom the thoughts that go through those childrens head. Newborns have a the best chance of being adopted quickly and thus put into a more family like setting. who knows what will happen to older children.. its just a shame.
@august_has_fallen@xanga - Word.
I was going to comment, but now I don't have to. (:
That is ridiculous that parents think it's ok to abuse the law like that! There definitely needs to be an age restriction to the safe haven law. I think it's a great law when used correctly to save the life of a baby who's mother didn't want it or couldn't care for it...it's better than the alternative (death of the baby). This law in no way should be used for older children! That's why there are state services to help families that are having issues with their children. Abuse, neglect, and abandonment are not the answer.
I agree. I think the law should be ammended. Infants, yes, I see the point in that one, but teenagers? I think that Nebraska can see that they need to implement some kind of family counseling/parenting class program! (As do most states, I think, Nebraska is just one example, of course.)
It's sad to think that these children who are showing up would probably be the infants dropped off years ago if this law were intact then.
I understand having an age limit, but I don't think the age should be capped at 3 days old or 30 days. Most of the baby abuse cases I read about are 3-9 month old babies. I would much prefer they be dropped off at a hospital than end up dead. I think the fact that so many kids and teens are being abandoned in Nebraska definitely shows that they have some seriously flaws with their system in that parents have nowhere to turn! So I think they should cap the age at 1 or 2 years and then provide services to parents that are at the end of their ropes with their older children.
i dont think there should be an age imit because what if these parent were to abuse their child instead of drop it off i hink many would think it was wrong also i dont believe in a abusing the system either tho
I think helping those kids is more important than sitting in judgment on the parents...also, look at the economy-how is that NOT playing a role? The unemployed widower who gave up 9 kids-he was definitely worried about providing for them.
Coming from NE, it has hit this community hard. We hear it on the news everyday, in fact we'd wake up, turn on the news & wait to see how many more kids were dropped off.
The law has changed tho, just so everyone knows. They did that a few days ago & have been working to get other things going for the families with problems.
I do think that safe haven laws should be in effect for all the unwanted infants, but I think it should be infants up to a year or so, not just ones up to 30 days.
As for all the teens & preteens who are not wanted, it is a cry for help, esp. since we had kids brought clear from CA to NE. There should really be more FREE and AVAILABLE resources for parents having trouble with their kids.
The safe haven law isn't meant for older children. It's meant for infants and it does work. Nebraska used the term child because they didn't want to restrict it too much and the word child can be anyone from birth-19. In other states it's for infants usually up to a month old, which is what Nebraska changed it to.
It has been amended and the problem was not the law, the problem was and still is what do parents do when they can;t take care of their kids? The newborn laws have helped save children that would have died otherwise.
Instead of condemning the parents that realize they have reached their limits shouldn't we be looking for a way to help them?
I honestly don't think it should be annonymous. I hate how these irresponsible parents are able to walk away with zero responsibility for their actions. Realistically, I understand that this is impossible, but I wish there was a way to protect the annonymity of the children (or almost grown 17 year olds) while at the same time being able to publish full page photos and bios of the parents in the local papers. Like, 'Think twice about hiring this man: he abandoned his children - just imagine what he could do to your business.' Granted, I'm not a mom (yet), but I understand how draining and all-encompassing it can be. But totally abandoning your child like THAT? There has to be some sort of lasting repercussion.
@august_has_fallen@xanga - Those are my thoughts exactly.
lmao! that is hilarious. but sad and messed up. how must those children feel? did the parents explain why they were leaving them? all these questions pop up in my head. and if the law changes it really wouldn't affect the choice cause it has already happened. unless those kids just hop in a cab and go back home. but if the courts decide to send them back home, it too late, the damage has been done. they know for a fact that they were unwanted. and i gotta say that is some fucked up information to have verified
I think that what is happening with dropping off older children is highlighting a need for resources to help parents who are struggling. While it would be horrific and emotionally scarring to be dropped off as a 7 year old or 14 year, its better than the child ending up dead or abused. I wish Casey Anthony had dropped her daughter Caylee off at her parents house or somewhere where she could have been safe.