Safe Haven
- Jan 9, 2006 - 2
Thirty-five states have now adopted so-called safe haven laws. Many of these laws came as a result of the first such law in Texas in September of 1999. The Texas law came in response to the discovery of 13 abandoned babies in 10 months. Though each state’s law reads a little differently, they all provide for the leaving of a newborn at a safe place (a hospital, fire station, or other designated safe place) with complete anonymity and no prosecution.
The law has had mixed results. Some say this is because the word has not gotten out to the intended audience—young mothers. Texas launched a $200,000 media campaign to familiarize people with the law. Florida fire stations display a decal reading “A Safe Baby Station: Leave a Baby in Safety.” Other states are beginning to follow suit.
Critics of the law say it may lead to more abandonment because it minimizes the responsibilities of parenthood and communicates that abandonment is o.k. But proponents of the law believe this may be an infant’s last safety net. James W. Merritt, a sponsor of the law in Indiana, says, “We should go as far as we can to save a child’s life.”
“Few Women Choose to Abandon Newborns at Legal Havens,” http://www.nytimes.com , August 31, 2001 [Access fee required]
(Note: your church could help in getting out the word by finding out the locations of safe havens in your community and making this information available in bulletins, newsletters, and pulpit announcements.)
“Does creating safe havens for unwanted newborns condone abandonment as some critics argue? No. It’s only one alternative, albeit not the best alternative, to make it easier for an abandoned baby to be put up for adoption anonymously . . . the issues about identity and medical history are far outweighed by keeping a baby alive.
“The argument that establishing safe havens encourages or even legalizes abandonment is defective. By virtue of establishing a safe haven, these mothers have an option to leaving a newborn in less-desirable environments such as the diaper shelf in a Denver grocery story. Besides, does anyone really believe that these young girls and women wantonly discard their offspring without conscience or consequence? No, the majority are young, scared and usually uneducated and uninformed, which is probably how they became pregnant in the first place. In any case, they must feel they have any other choice. Safe havens do more than provide a lifesaving alternative for newborns.
“This outlet may also provide an initial contact with a hospital or social worker who may be able to coax a desperate young mother to obtain further assistance.”
Adapted from Adrienne Washington, “‘Safe Havens’ Provide Alternatives to Abandonment,” http://www.washingtontimes.com , July 8, 2003 [Access fee required]
A woman recently gave birth in a Georgia Wal-Mart restroom and left the full term baby in a toilet covered with trash and toilet tissue. The baby was found by store employees. A customer administered CPR until a fire department worker arrived and revived the baby. Since Georgia has a safe haven law that allows women to leave a baby in a safe place within a week of birth, the mother—a young woman in her mid-20s with other children—will likely face charges. The only requirements are that the newborn be left at a medical facility and the mother show proof of her identity and address to the person with whom the baby is left. State officials in Georgia say that 317 babies have been left at Georgia hospitals or medical facilities since the law was passed in 2003.
“Woman Has Baby in Wal-Mart Bathroom, Leaves Infant Behind in Toilet,” http://www.newsday.com , August 16, 2005 [Access fee required]
Further Learning
Learn more about: Family, Abuse, Child Abuse, Life
2 comments (post your own) feed
1 On Mar 21st, 2007, at 10:07am, Matt wrote:
Please remember that the medical community and the scientific community are VERY POLITICAL. WBR LeoP
2 On Dec 11th, 2007, at 9:18am, Nana wrote:
This is a great law, but what about the scared 13 year old who does not have transportation to a medical facility, etc.? What choice does she have?
There has to be more that can be done. Certain laws that will allow for these mothers to contact a hotline (24hrs.)tell the location of the baby and have them picked up.
This seems like a sensible thing.