Nebraska's Safe Haven Law (Omaha, Lincoln: home, versus, shop)

[tduncan]

Well, I was not sure what face to use regarding this topic, as I am both angry and sad regarding what has gone on with the issuance of Nebraska's Safe Haven Law.

I just read in both the Lincoln and Omaha papers where a father dropped on NINE children from ages 1 to 17 at Creighton Medical Center in Omaha.

The angry part of me is disgusted by the fact that this law makes it WAY to easy. The sad part of me is glad that there is an outlet to keep our children safe and protect from situations that we all know can be horrible to this state's children.

While i think that the Safe Haven Law is for the good of children, I also think that it is WAY TO EASY for a parent, or parents, to use this law to their favor.

I don't want to start a big discussionary battle because as I said before, this law has good points to it, but it is SOOOOOO loose that it is simply to easy.

Now, with all that said, I read alot about how our Legislature is going to ammend...or should I say, attempt to ammend the law so that what is happening doesn't happen without some investigations and such.

It just really troubled me and honestly breaks my heart to see this going on, even though, it probably IS better for these children, in the long run. Maybe I just don't understand it because I did grow up in very loving home with wonderful parents that worked very hard to support me and my siblings. So I truly don't get it, but maybe because I am blind to what it is that makes a person need to do this??

I just can't imagine the feeling of these kids...again, maybe I am looking at it too "one sided"???

Makes me sad and a little bit MAD

[Dave1215]

Fully concur with what you said. I too grew up in a loving 2 parent family and I currently have that same type of family for my kids - so hard to relate. On the other side, I have in the past taken in a teenager who's parent's were divoriced, mom was no where to be found and dad had a traveling job... while it was nice that we took that young boy in, I also think we made it too easy on the dad to abandon his son - his son needed his dad.

I do hope the law tightens up a bit so it is for those young women who are in real trouble - like below one year of age...

[tduncan]

Dave,

I think it is great that people like you are that way, that WILL help out the youngsters of this state. My kids know they are loved and taken care, just as I was. No being a parent isn't easy all the time, but for me, the "not easy" almost goes unnoticed because of that heartstring(s) that connect me with my kids!

Again, I am no pro in understanding the law as it is stated now, but clearly it needs changed, and I see that this is very much in the fore front on lawmakers' minds. And I am not judging anyone, because this isn't an Omaha, or Lincoln issue, it can be just as much a burden on people in Bayard, or Scottsbluff or any area or town in this state. It isn't easy being a Mom or a Dad at times, but I know this, as hard as it is, those heartstrings will forever and always have ME connected to my kids, and their friends!

That story this morning in the two big papers just destroyed my heart for these kids!!

Responsibility & Love!!!!!

[star_gazer]

Breaking news... two more parents have turned over 11 and 15 year olds... 11 kids in 24 hours.

The legislature needs an emergency session to pass a bill to build an orphanage!

[tduncan]

Star-Gaser...I just read that...it is a SICKENING DAY in Nebraska!

The MUST have an emergency session before there are more and more kids just left to be wards of the state!

I am sorry, but I am not sure what our Legislature was thinking when they did NOT explain the law as no more than "Child" versus and age "limit"

I JUST DON'T GET IT AT ALL PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tduncan]

As quoted in one newspaper article

"At least 16 children have been abandoned since the state's new safe haven law took effect, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Officials say two of those cases don't fall under the safe have law because one child was left at a police station and one child's age wasn't covered by the law.
Todd Landry, director of HHS' division of Children and Family Services, said that in nearly every case, the parents who left their children felt overwhelmed and had decided they didn't want to be parents anymore. None of the kids dropped off so far has been in danger, Landry said."

Many of them, with the exception of a few of the NINE that were "dropped off" are over the age of 11.

Hug your kids tonight, call your kids if they are away from home!!!

A report in the World Herald says that the Department of Health & Human Services are having some sort of a press conference I beleive today. It takes more than them to fix this problem...I hope our legislature steps up to address this. NOW

[tduncan]

Just some FYI, published in the Lincoln Journal-Star today. Some good points and a good display of what does happen when a child, or children are left off at an approved location to do so.

JournalStar.com - Lincoln, Nebraska - News - Nebraska (broken link)

Hope I can put that link in, because it at least sheds a little light on this very upsetting thing!!

[Beretta]

This has made the national news. My husband and I were absolutely jaw dropped to read this!

With teens being left at hospitals, Nebraska Legislature sets hearing - CNN.com

[Dave1215]

There is now a family that crossed state lines to come into Nebraska to drop off their kid.... that needs to be changed in the state law - otherwise Nebraska's social services begins serving our neighboring states just because we have a more lucrative program - I don't like that idea - that makes folks just shop for the best deal.

[nephthys]

This law makes no sense to me

And these people are probably anti-abortion................... (the ones that have tons of kids they can't take care of, or have kids in general they cant take care of)