BabySafeHaven
10-27-2004, 03:36 AM
INDIANA
http://www.thejournalnet.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=113&Article
ID=46905
Law lets parents leave newborn at safe place
By MICHELE HOLTKAMP-FRYE
Daily Journal staff writer
mholtkamp@thejournalnet.com
Oct. 27, 2004
Overwhelming fear can be a common feeling for parents of any age when they face
an unwanted pregnancy, child advocates say.
And although the circumstances surrounding Tiffany Norton’s pregnancy
remained unclear on Tuesday, she had options other than denying the birth and
abandoning the child.
Norton or the baby’s father could have left the baby at a hospital or fire
department minutes or days after the birth.
No questions asked.
Four years ago, Indiana lawmakers decided any infant younger than 45 days old
could be left anonymously in the care of firefighters or hospital employees
with no criminal consequences. The law — known as Baby Safe Haven — was
passed in response to a local and nationwide problem of infant abandonment.
Now, 45 states have enacted similar laws.
A case from Fort Wayne just last month proves that the law works, state Sen.
Jim Merritt said. Merritt supported the law and helped start an Indianapolis
organization, Reaching Parents in Crisis, which works to increase public
awareness of the law, educate parents about other options and loan cell phones
to at-risk expectant parents.
A mother left a 1-month-old boy in the care of Fort Wayne firefighters, who
turned the infant over to Child Protective Services. Later, the infant was
placed with foster parents, the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reported. The mother
wasn’t required to leave her name or any information about the child.
Indiana law states that an emergency worker can take temporary custody of any
child voluntarily left at a fire department or hospital by the parent. Child
Protective Services is required to determine if the child had been reported
missing.
But parents can make plans to turn over the child months before giving birth or
even after labor has started.
A 24-hour hotline operated from a small Indiana town is gaining nationwide
attention from parents who don’t know what to do about an unwanted baby.
Newborn Lifeline Network volunteers encourage mothers to deliver in a hospital
and put them in contact with pregnancy centers, welfare workers or even
adoption attorneys via three-way calling, depending on the mother’s
situation. The caller remains anonymous but can learn specific locations close
to home or miles away where the baby can be left, said Kathy Satow, president
and co-founder of the organization based in Pekin.
The hotline started two years ago, and pregnant women ranging from age 12 to
40-something have been among the hundreds of callers. Some are victims of
incest. Some have had affairs.
An average of 100 women call each month, Satow said. Typically, the women are
between 19 and 22 years old and have a support system of family and friends but
are afraid to let their loved ones down by revealing the pregnancy, Satow said.
“If they’re not making any other choice, then Safe Haven,” Satow said.
“At least it’s a decision you can live with.”
Newborn Lifeline volunteers will even contact a hospital to notify them that a
mother will arrive in a few hours who wants to leave her baby so the hospital
is prepared and the mother’s worry is reduced.
At the end of the month, Newborn Lifeline Network will be able to help callers
who speak a language other than English. Volunteers will put a translator on
the line via a three-way call, Satow said, and 150 languages will be available.
http://www.thejournalnet.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=113&Article
ID=46905
Law lets parents leave newborn at safe place
By MICHELE HOLTKAMP-FRYE
Daily Journal staff writer
mholtkamp@thejournalnet.com
Oct. 27, 2004
Overwhelming fear can be a common feeling for parents of any age when they face
an unwanted pregnancy, child advocates say.
And although the circumstances surrounding Tiffany Norton’s pregnancy
remained unclear on Tuesday, she had options other than denying the birth and
abandoning the child.
Norton or the baby’s father could have left the baby at a hospital or fire
department minutes or days after the birth.
No questions asked.
Four years ago, Indiana lawmakers decided any infant younger than 45 days old
could be left anonymously in the care of firefighters or hospital employees
with no criminal consequences. The law — known as Baby Safe Haven — was
passed in response to a local and nationwide problem of infant abandonment.
Now, 45 states have enacted similar laws.
A case from Fort Wayne just last month proves that the law works, state Sen.
Jim Merritt said. Merritt supported the law and helped start an Indianapolis
organization, Reaching Parents in Crisis, which works to increase public
awareness of the law, educate parents about other options and loan cell phones
to at-risk expectant parents.
A mother left a 1-month-old boy in the care of Fort Wayne firefighters, who
turned the infant over to Child Protective Services. Later, the infant was
placed with foster parents, the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reported. The mother
wasn’t required to leave her name or any information about the child.
Indiana law states that an emergency worker can take temporary custody of any
child voluntarily left at a fire department or hospital by the parent. Child
Protective Services is required to determine if the child had been reported
missing.
But parents can make plans to turn over the child months before giving birth or
even after labor has started.
A 24-hour hotline operated from a small Indiana town is gaining nationwide
attention from parents who don’t know what to do about an unwanted baby.
Newborn Lifeline Network volunteers encourage mothers to deliver in a hospital
and put them in contact with pregnancy centers, welfare workers or even
adoption attorneys via three-way calling, depending on the mother’s
situation. The caller remains anonymous but can learn specific locations close
to home or miles away where the baby can be left, said Kathy Satow, president
and co-founder of the organization based in Pekin.
The hotline started two years ago, and pregnant women ranging from age 12 to
40-something have been among the hundreds of callers. Some are victims of
incest. Some have had affairs.
An average of 100 women call each month, Satow said. Typically, the women are
between 19 and 22 years old and have a support system of family and friends but
are afraid to let their loved ones down by revealing the pregnancy, Satow said.
“If they’re not making any other choice, then Safe Haven,” Satow said.
“At least it’s a decision you can live with.”
Newborn Lifeline volunteers will even contact a hospital to notify them that a
mother will arrive in a few hours who wants to leave her baby so the hospital
is prepared and the mother’s worry is reduced.
At the end of the month, Newborn Lifeline Network will be able to help callers
who speak a language other than English. Volunteers will put a translator on
the line via a three-way call, Satow said, and 150 languages will be available.
