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NE Children's Home Society opposes safe havens
Families gather for a celebration of adoption
by Diane Wetzel, The North Platte Telegraph
11/14/2004
Nebraska is one of only three states in the nation that does not have a Safe
Haven law on the books.
Bob Brandt, executive director of Nebraska Children's Home Society, thinks
that is the way it should stay.
"Nebraska is not behind when it comes to legislation," Brandt said. "We are
ahead."
In theory, Safe Haven laws will prevent newborns from being dumped by
panicked mothers and left to die. A mother can leave a newborn with a
hospital or police department without prosecution.
Safe Haven laws got their start in Texas. The law allows "a parent or other
person who is entitled to possess a child 30 days old or younger" to
voluntarily leave that child in the possession of an emergency-care
provider. The abandoner is legally immune to prosecution. During 1999-2000
the trend to pass this type legislation spread across the county.
Brandt said he is opposed to Safe Haven legislation, which allows a newborn
to be "legally abandoned."
"It gets a little uncomfortable to oppose these laws, but for the past three
years, as director of NCHS, I have," Brandt said.
"Babies are still being abandoned. The law doesn't examine the psyche of
those who abandon their babies. We have to realize that it isn't happening
that way."
Brandt told the group that mothers who will abandon their newborns will not
think about a law that prevents prosecution if they give their child to an
emergency care provider.
"Safe Haven laws are a way to circumvent adoption laws and have unintended
consequences."
Brandt said the legislation was going to hit again this year.
"It's going to be tougher this year because we lost a baby."
Brandt was referring to a two-day-old infant discovered abandoned in a canal
near the Elkhorn River in Norfolk last June. Norfolk businesses raised funds
to provide a casket and flowers.
Nebraska Children's Home Society has a long tradition of putting children
first. Founded in 1893, the NCHS is unique because no fees are charged. The
group is the largest adoption agency in Nebraska.
"We are not looking for children for parents," Brandt said. "We're looking
for good homes for children."
Brandt was in North Platte Thursday night for a celebration for National
Adoption Month.
Giggles and cookies started out the evening as area families gathered for a
celebration of adoption.
The Great Plains Area Adoption Association sponsored the event. The
invitation was extended to all members of the family of adoption. Adoptive
parents and birth mothers mingled over cake and punch. While children played
games, Brandt discussed Safe Haven legislation with the group.
Brandt said that in 2000, the state of New York, which does have safe haven
legislation, had 19 newborns reported under Safe Haven. In Nebraska, during
the same time period, 53 at-risk cases that fit high risk for abandonment
were helped by the NCHS. The NCHS uses an 800 number, staffed by a
caseworker around the clock, and will have billboards up all over the state
this month. Of those 53 cases, 33 were hospital referrals, 18 were calls
from the client themselves, and physicians referred two.
"Our philosophy is if you are going to bolt, bolt." Brandt said. "We will
provide safe care for your baby."
Thirty-three of the 53 cases came back after a day or two and sat down with
caseworkers from NCHS to talk about options for the baby. Twelve decided to
parent the baby with supervision.
"I hope society doesn't get to the point where they think abandonment of a
child is a good thing," Brandt said. "We must get the word out that there is
safe help. We think we have laws that allow us to protect the babies."
NE Children's Home Society opposes safe havens
Families gather for a celebration of adoption
by Diane Wetzel, The North Platte Telegraph
11/14/2004
Nebraska is one of only three states in the nation that does not have a Safe
Haven law on the books.
Bob Brandt, executive director of Nebraska Children's Home Society, thinks
that is the way it should stay.
"Nebraska is not behind when it comes to legislation," Brandt said. "We are
ahead."
In theory, Safe Haven laws will prevent newborns from being dumped by
panicked mothers and left to die. A mother can leave a newborn with a
hospital or police department without prosecution.
Safe Haven laws got their start in Texas. The law allows "a parent or other
person who is entitled to possess a child 30 days old or younger" to
voluntarily leave that child in the possession of an emergency-care
provider. The abandoner is legally immune to prosecution. During 1999-2000
the trend to pass this type legislation spread across the county.
Brandt said he is opposed to Safe Haven legislation, which allows a newborn
to be "legally abandoned."
"It gets a little uncomfortable to oppose these laws, but for the past three
years, as director of NCHS, I have," Brandt said.
"Babies are still being abandoned. The law doesn't examine the psyche of
those who abandon their babies. We have to realize that it isn't happening
that way."
Brandt told the group that mothers who will abandon their newborns will not
think about a law that prevents prosecution if they give their child to an
emergency care provider.
"Safe Haven laws are a way to circumvent adoption laws and have unintended
consequences."
Brandt said the legislation was going to hit again this year.
"It's going to be tougher this year because we lost a baby."
Brandt was referring to a two-day-old infant discovered abandoned in a canal
near the Elkhorn River in Norfolk last June. Norfolk businesses raised funds
to provide a casket and flowers.
Nebraska Children's Home Society has a long tradition of putting children
first. Founded in 1893, the NCHS is unique because no fees are charged. The
group is the largest adoption agency in Nebraska.
"We are not looking for children for parents," Brandt said. "We're looking
for good homes for children."
Brandt was in North Platte Thursday night for a celebration for National
Adoption Month.
Giggles and cookies started out the evening as area families gathered for a
celebration of adoption.
The Great Plains Area Adoption Association sponsored the event. The
invitation was extended to all members of the family of adoption. Adoptive
parents and birth mothers mingled over cake and punch. While children played
games, Brandt discussed Safe Haven legislation with the group.
Brandt said that in 2000, the state of New York, which does have safe haven
legislation, had 19 newborns reported under Safe Haven. In Nebraska, during
the same time period, 53 at-risk cases that fit high risk for abandonment
were helped by the NCHS. The NCHS uses an 800 number, staffed by a
caseworker around the clock, and will have billboards up all over the state
this month. Of those 53 cases, 33 were hospital referrals, 18 were calls
from the client themselves, and physicians referred two.
"Our philosophy is if you are going to bolt, bolt." Brandt said. "We will
provide safe care for your baby."
Thirty-three of the 53 cases came back after a day or two and sat down with
caseworkers from NCHS to talk about options for the baby. Twelve decided to
parent the baby with supervision.
"I hope society doesn't get to the point where they think abandonment of a
child is a good thing," Brandt said. "We must get the word out that there is
safe help. We think we have laws that allow us to protect the babies."
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