Safe Haven: Parents’ Bailout?
Parent’s fantasy: leave your unruly child with someone else and walk away for awhile.
Parent’s reality: leave your unruly child with someone at a hospital in Nebraska, and walk away forever, with no legal consequence.
Every state in America has a so-called “safe haven” law, under which a troubled parent can safely surrender a newborn baby, usually at a hospital or fire station, no questions asked.
But Nebraska’s safe haven law is different. Intended to protect only infants, it was written with the word “child” left undefined and without an age limit, opening a gaping legal loophole for an unprecedented human bailout.
Since the law took effect in July, at least 30 children—almost all between the ages 8 and 18—have been dumped in Nebraska hospitals by parents or guardians who say they can no longer cope with their kids. “According to the law, the abandonments are legal, and the parents cannot be held criminally responsible.”
One desperate widower dropped off nine of his children at a local hospital, then left. Other parents traveled long distances to legally ditch their kids in Nebraska, including the mother of a delinquent 12-year-old boy, who drove 1,000 miles from their home in Georgia. “I ran out of fight,” she said, after abandoning her son. “I ran out of hope.”
Authorities were stunned. “I think they’re just irresponsible people who are not very caring for their kids,” pronounced one state senator. But others saw the situation as a serious wakeup call about the increasing needs of struggling families. “They are desperate people, in a spot,” said another senator, “and don’t know where to turn.”
Tell us what you think: Should parents have the legal right to abandon a child—and their own responsibility—because of behavioral or other problems? Is abandonment a better option than abuse? Does Nebraska’s safe haven law protect children or contribute to their neglect?
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I can't believe it
I can’t believe it some people will do such things to a child. Any family that goes through a hard time like that should be asking for a help before abandoning their children. Having said that, I think we have to go back to one of the questions raised in another blog: that is the conscious decision to have children and all the related issues attached to it. I’ll mention again that I think education, starting at an early age is the real long term solution. I sincerely hope to see the educational systems deal directly with this problem in a sensitive, ethical and effective way in my lifetime. I am a parent of three children and it makes me very disappointed to see parents give up their children for some reason. Also, I do not have the right to judge them for what reason that make them to do that.
Farsilla Rada | 11 months, 4 weeks ago
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Wow
This is crazy, look, if you are going to have kids; you are legally responsible for them until the age of eighteen. If you don’t want kids, don’t have sex. Wow, just the parents of today amaze me. Grow some backbone and act like the parent. If you are letting your child walk all over you, then I am being truthful, but you are just a bad parent.
Tressie Osmun | 11 months, 1 week ago
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I love it.
Society is hard enough to live as an adult. All you have to do is take a look around to see what is going on with our children. I wish I could be one of the people in Ohio that could take as many as these kids as possible. But again our government does not want to help those who help others!
THANK YOU NEBRASKA FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING!!!
Autumn Daley | 10 months, 4 weeks ago
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I agree with quite a few of the posters
I agree with quite a few of the posters on this thread that agree that it is far better for children to be given up by overwhelmed parents at an identified site than to be locked in cellars with windows painted over and mistreated! Selfish parents simply murder than children. As far as CPS becoming involved, they are rarely helpful in any but the most egregious cases of physical abuse.
Anonymous | 10 months, 2 weeks ago
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The Real Issue Here In Nebraska
The real issue isn’t whether the parents were right or wrong to drop the kids off. The real issue is why did they. The lack of services to help children in this country makes it very difficult, if not almost impossible, to get children the mental help or financial help needed to ensure that these kids are well provided for. Understanding that cost is a huge issue and that sometimes financially it isn’t worth having certain facilities up and running. Perhaps if the government could look at co-state sharing for certain services than parents could get the help they need for their kids. I sure if a mother is willing to drive 1000 miles to Nebraska to drop off her kids then I’m sure she would be willing to drive to another state to try a different program if it meant getting the help she needed. I now that with my disabled son I would. I would only resort to it because as a ward of the state they will get the help instead of maybe if I can afford it. If the cost of some doctor appointments is to much then surprise when the state sees how much they will end up paying out if they have to become the childs full time ward. I think you all get the point.
Kim Stallings | 9 months, 4 weeks ago
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hearts of gold
Yes if a person feels they cant care for a child, yes, they should drop the child off at a hospital or a safe place. There are many people how can’t have children and would love to adopt. Children are defenseless. They just want love, and someone to care about them. Give a child a chance. Love them they are human also.
sherri lynn taylor | 9 months, 2 weeks ago
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Some people need help
Some parents just get over whelmed and don’t know where to turn being afraid to ask someone for help for what they may think of them. Afraid to go to social services because what they will do. Afraid to get the child help at all. I know a girl that has an awful time with her son but is afraid to take him to a doctor to see what they can do because he tells lies and she has had people tell her that doctor’s twist you and your child say around. But in the mean time she, him her husband and two other children stay tore up all the time. But she is afraid to get help so they are all miserable, and that is sad. People who keep foster children get respite why can’t a normal everyday person get this so some of the parents don’t get so overwhelmed and hurt their children and they end up in foster care. It would be nice to have some where to drop your children off not to give them up or abandon them but just to get a break from them for a little while and not have to pay for it. It could help with abuse somewhat maybe. But I think our children need a break from us sometimes just like we need a break from them. Maybe if we all would help someone that we see struggling, it would help.
Heather Purdue | 9 months, 2 weeks ago
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Mom
A loving parent will not give up their child unless they believe it is in the best interest for that child. Safe havens for infants and children of all ages should be available. We have been blessed by safe haven’s potential to literally stop at drastically reduce long term physical and emotional abuse in this country by opening our hearts allowing parents to make choices that affect their lives and the lives of their children without punishment. No families are perfect – but there may come a time especially with unemployment at an all time high that the parents can no longer provide for that child. Instead of freezing to death in an abandoned car or store front they could have a home, warm food and a brighter future. It is not the parents’ fault or the child’s fault. It is not about money. It is about compassion and love to reach out and care. Where is your heart? Mine is in full support of safe havens!
Gloria | 8 months, 1 week ago
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Good post, thx
Royal Botania | 8 months, 1 week ago
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Standing together in managing the orphanage school
Iam in Africa {Uganda } East africa l want to work with me to help these helpless children
Bishop Sande Lukwago | 4 weeks, 1 day ago
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