Flying with Nebraska, again

Nebraska has finally changed its Safe Haven law. It now reads that says that no child older than 30 days can be dropped off. Since September when the original law was passed 35 children have been dropped off at local hospitals. Only six of them were under under the age of 10. No infants were left. Parents have travelled from Georgia, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, and Florida to drop their children off.

A profile of 30 children revealed that:

27 have received mental health treatment
28 came from single-parent homes
22 had a parent with history of incarceration
20 are white; eight are black

One mother said that she had to drop her son off because she could not get help. The positive result from this tragedy is that many state and federal agencies are looking at the current resources available to parents who are having issues raising their children. One woman was afraid of her son. She could not find an agency to direct her to viable alternatives of treatment or counseling. When she discussed taking her son to Nebraska and leaving him, she was referred to social services. Hopefully she received solid advice, because as of November, 22, 2008, Nebraska is no longer an option.

Unfortunately or fortunately (I am not really sure because if your parent do not want you, aren't you better somewhere else? ) another 14 year old was brought from California and dropped off just before the new law went into effect. He is now in the foster care system. This brings the total to 36.

If you need assistance of any kind, call 211 from your phone. You will be connected with a caring voice who will answer your questions confidentially and direct to a resource who will respond to your needs. Check the status of 211 in your area at http://211us.org/status.htm.