Nebraska abandonment

Have you been reading about this? First, let me give you a summary of two articles that have caught my eye in the last two weeks.

OMAHA, Neb. – A 15-year-old girl was abandoned by her father Tuesday night at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha , bringing to 22 the number of children left under the state's unique safe-haven law since it took effect in July. The State officials declined to answer questions about the case until Wednesday, when more information could be gathered and the girl has been placed in a residential shelter while authorities continue to investigate her case.

Nebraska's safe-haven law, which took effect in July, is the only one in the country that lets caregivers leave children as old as 18 at a state-licensed hospital without fear of prosecution. The youngest child abandoned so far was only a year old; 12 of the 22 left so far have been teenagers. Three children were from other states, including Iowa, Michigan and Georgia.

Nebraska's law was intended to protect infants, but it did not define "child" in its wording. Most state lawmakers have agreed to amend the law when the Legislature reconvenes in January so that it applies only to infants up to 3 days old.

11/10/08 LINCOLN, Neb. – Police say a woman has abandoned her 18-year-old daughter at a hospital, saying she can't control the girl. The woman told officials at BryanLGH Medical Center West that her daughter, who was adopted, is bipolar and has a learning disability. "The adoptive mother says that the daughter refused to take some medication for some conditions that she has." The girl was placed in state custody.

If the young woman's status is confirmed by the state, she would be the 30th child abandoned under Nebraska's safe-haven law since it went into effect in July. Some have interpreted the state's law as meaning it could apply to children as old as 18, because it uses the word "child" and doesn't specify an age limit. Some have taken the word "child" to mean "minor," which in Nebraska includes anyone under the age of 19. Others use the common-law definition, up to age 14. State Department of Health and Human Services officials say another state law pertaining to juveniles will not let authorities take in children older than 17. The Legislature opens a special session on Friday to change the law.

The things that catches my attention:
- clearly abandonment doesn't come easily
- things get tougher as kids get older
- regulators are missing the point, they want to save "babies less than 3 days old" but shouldn't all kids have a loving home?

I'm so sadden by all this. I can't imagine abandoning a child. You would ether have to be amazing self-focused, or amazingly selfless. Imagine thinking that others could do better for your child, and then reaching out for that help. The regulators are horrified that they aren't saving babies, but they still are, these kids need homes.