Nebraska Passed A 'safe Haven' Law Which Allows Parents To Drop Off Thier Children At A Hospital Or Other Safe Haven.

[elkan80]

This was intended to be for babies but unlike other States there was no age limit in the bill. Consequently people have been dropping off thier children as old as 17. And more than a few. One father even drove from Florida to drop off his son.Is this a problem with the law?A problem with the system?A problem with society?I have trouble understanding how you could just abandon your children. I do understand how a new mother might be overwhelmed and need to let go, but at some point it would seem you form a bond. I don't get it.http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1859405,00.html?iid=tsmodule

[Glendyn]

a way to protect the newborn.  Dropping off children that are older is abandonment and certain to cause psychological damage to the child.  How can you just throw away your own child?  The Nebraska law should be amended and anyone dropping off a child other than a baby should be prosecuted for abandonment.

[Cinnfhail]

Problems The lawmakers in Nebraska admitted the wording in the law was flawed but I don't think they realized people would take it to mean children other than babies at risk. The legislature called an emergency session and they are working this weekend on an amended law to try to "fix" this.  I feel this is a sad statement on our times, the economy and how difficult it is to raise children these days.  Gone are the days when parents had the final word, and I'm not saying that's a bad thing either.  I realize not everyone was meant to be a parent and like you have trouble understanding how someone could just abandon a child.  However, I also understand how hopeless and helpless a person can feel and how far they can be driven to self despair and depression and not be able to cope with taking care of anyone, not even theirselves.  There is always going to be someone out there who will look at that law and say, "hey, here's a way to be rid of a burden and I can have some fun."  I definitely don't think that was the intent of the law.  We can only hope those children "abandoned" can find love and safety with someone. Bear-Lo 62 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[Beornet]

Its our society Its our society.  In other countries if you need help with your kids you can ask for it without being judged.  You can even give your parental rights to a friend or family member that is better able to care for your child or children.  But here in the Great USA that is not really an option.  Thus you see the parents that are stressed out or over the edge killing the entire family and then themselves.  If their state had a law like NE has, those kids could be alive!  If every state had a law where the parents could litlerally give, with acceptance as well, their kids to another adult to raise them better and safer than they can, for a time being or for long term, there would be a lot less cases of child abuse and such.  Yes its hard on a child to be dropped off at a hosipital and left, but odds are they are not well attached to their folks, at least the parents are not attached to them, and that is often a case in most abuse cases.  Its better than the kids being tossed out on the streets to try to survive.  And that happens.  Even PRETEENS are living on their own trying to make it and that is scarey and sad.  Think what they have to do to get any food or $$...  And many of them came from homes where drugs and abuse were standard.  But if they had been able to go live with a caring frined or family member they could be safe.    Maybe the flaw that NE made in the wording of the law, is actually a wonderful concept to allowing parents to step up and do whats best for their kids without fear of recourse, so that the kids have a better chance.  Now lets take it to the next step.    I have 2 friends, one is raising his nephew and it was a huge pain in the ass of a legal issue for him to get custody of him, even though his sister wanted him ro raise her son, and she was trying to get her life out of the sewer and off the drugs and such, and it took months and lots of $$ for it to happen.  Another friend has his god-son living with him and his wife and their 2 kids, with just a temporary custody agreement from the childs father is trying to deal with the loss of his wife to cancer and otyher issues.  And the boy is dealign well with the loss since he has a caring family to take care of him and get him the therapy he needs and such.  Where his father is still greiving and trying to sort out his own things.  Even after 18months.  But his son is safe. And that is the most important thing!! Sources: My life experiences and my thoughts as a single adopting/foster daddy with 5 boys, please check out my Online Photo Gallery at http://AkPhotos.zenfolio.com/   GlacierWaterIsCold's Recommendations Father to Son: Life Lessons on Raising a Boy Amazon List Price: $7.95 Used from: $0.01 Average Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5(based on 22 reviews) Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys Amazon List Price: $15.00 Used from: $2.64 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5(based on 110 reviews) Real Boys : Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood Amazon List Price: $16.00 Used from: $0.01 Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5(based on 117 reviews) Boys of Few Words: Raising Our Sons to Communicate and Connect Amazon List Price: $14.95 Used from: $9.38 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5(based on 5 reviews) GlacierWaterIsCold 62 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[Primo]

I agree that the purpose of this kind of law was for new mothers(teens) who were overwhelmed, and it provided for a way to protect the newborn.  Dropping off children that are older is abandonment and certain to cause psychological damage to the child.  How can you just throw away your own child?  The Nebraska law should be amended and anyone dropping off a child other than a baby should be prosecuted for abandonment. MaryAnn 62 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[Absalom]

Its better than the other options Its better than the kids being abused, or kicked out on the street or such.  The fostercare system is a long way from perfect or even really good, however an abusive home is no answer.  I think they need to set it up so that its  USA national law and that parents are allowed to find a good responsible person that can become guardian and take care of the child that they should be able to do that instead of just giving them to the state to deal with.  Often a family member or even family friend would step in if they could and had that option.  But to do so is a huge legal battle and if you are not rich its not really an option...  If Obama can fix that it will make the USA a much better and safer place for families and kids!!!! Sources: my thoughts as a foaster dad   fish4walleye's Recommendations Parental Rights the Contemporary Assault on Traditional Liberties Amazon List Price: $9.95 Used from: $2.19 The Yoder Case: Religious Freedom, Education, and Parental Rights(Landmark Law Cases and American Society) Amazon List Price: $14.95 Used from: $10.24 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5(based on 1 reviews) fish4walleye 62 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[Balfour]

Its about Time 100 years ago children were just kicked out of the home to fend for themselves times were hard, At least id rather see them dropped off at a hospital than out in the country, like animals. It wasn't always the Mother, But the father that drove them and dropped them off most for the part at orphanages. Now they are few and far between, at least one state has taken responsibility to be accountable for the unwanted. Maybe if more states did that, the runaways would at least have a place to go instead of selling themselves on the streets.     tccat 62 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[Sunukkuhkau]

Its our society.  In other countries if you need help with your kids you can ask for it without being judged.  You can even give your parental rights to a friend or family member that is better able to care for your child or children.  But here in the Great USA that is not really an option.  Thus you see the parents that are stressed out or over the edge killing the entire family and then themselves.  If their state had a law like NE has, those kids could be alive!  If every state had a law where the parents could litlerally give, with acceptance as well, their kids to another adult to raise them better and safer than they can, for a time being or for long term, there would be a lot less cases of child abuse and such.  Yes its hard on a child to be dropped off at a hosipital and left, but odds are they are not well attached to their folks, at least the parents are not attached to them, and that is often a case in most abuse cases.  Its better than the kids being tossed out on the streets to try to survive.  And that happens.  Even PRETEENS are living on their own trying to make it and that is scarey and sad.  Think what they have to do to get any food or $$...  And many of them came from homes where drugs and abuse were standard.  But if they had been able to go live with a caring frined or family member they could be safe.    Maybe the flaw that NE made in the wording of the law, is actually a wonderful concept to allowing parents to step up and do whats best for their kids without fear of recourse, so that the kids have a better chance.  Now lets take it to the next step.    I have 2 friends, one is raising his nephew and it was a huge pain in the ass of a legal issue for him to get custody of him, even though his sister wanted him ro raise her son, and she was trying to get her life out of the sewer and off the drugs and such, and it took months and lots of $$ for it to happen.  Another friend has his god-son living with him and his wife and their 2 kids, with just a temporary custody agreement from the childs father is trying to deal with the loss of his wife to cancer and otyher issues.  And the boy is dealign well with the loss since he has a caring family to take care of him and get him the therapy he needs and such.  Where his father is still greiving and trying to sort out his own things.  Even after 18months.  But his son is safe. And that is the most important thing!!

[wynn]

The lawmakers in Nebraska admitted the wording in the law was flawed but I don't think they realized people would take it to mean children other than babies at risk. The legislature called an emergency session and they are working this weekend on an amended law to try to "fix" this.  I feel this is a sad statement on our times, the economy and how difficult it is to raise children these days.  Gone are the days when parents had the final word, and I'm not saying that's a bad thing either.  I realize not everyone was meant to be a parent and like you have trouble understanding how someone could just abandon a child.  However, I also understand how hopeless and helpless a person can feel and how far they can be driven to self despair and depression and not be able to cope with taking care of anyone, not even theirselves.  There is always going to be someone out there who will look at that law and say, "hey, here's a way to be rid of a burden and I can have some fun."  I definitely don't think that was the intent of the law.  We can only hope those children "abandoned" can find love and safety with someone.

[Molan]

100 years ago children were just kicked out of the home to fend for themselves times were hard, At least id rather see them dropped off at a hospital than out in the country, like animals. It wasn't always the Mother, But the father that drove them and dropped them off most for the part at orphanages. Now they are few and far between, at least one state has taken responsibility to be accountable for the unwanted. Maybe if more states did that, the runaways would at least have a place to go instead of selling themselves on the streets.