Safe Haven. Video Molly .

Safe HavenSafe Haven

VideoVideoMollyMolly

www.nationalsafehavenalliance.orgwww.nationalsafehavenalliance.org

http://youtu.be/TPIRRvGm4

History of Safe History of Safe HavenHaven

Safe Haven started as the “baby Mosses Safe Haven started as the “baby Mosses law” in Texas in September 1999.law” in Texas in September 1999.

During that year in Texas there were 13 During that year in Texas there were 13 abandoned infants that were found within abandoned infants that were found within a year. 3 of those infants died.a year. 3 of those infants died.

Since then 45 out of the 50 states have Since then 45 out of the 50 states have some form of Safe Haven Laws.some form of Safe Haven Laws.

Premise of Safe Premise of Safe HavenHaven

In theory Safe Haven sites are supposed to be used In theory Safe Haven sites are supposed to be used instead of infants being left abandoned in a unsafe instead of infants being left abandoned in a unsafe environment. Infants can be taken to a Safe environment. Infants can be taken to a Safe Haven site where the child will be safe and not Haven site where the child will be safe and not placed at harm.placed at harm.

Parent or parents of the infant that is left will not Parent or parents of the infant that is left will not have to give out any personal information and they have to give out any personal information and they can be totally anonymous.can be totally anonymous.

There is also a component that parents who give There is also a component that parents who give up their infant at a Safe Haven site will be less up their infant at a Safe Haven site will be less likely to be charged with any crime if the infant is likely to be charged with any crime if the infant is delivered to a Safe Haven site safely.delivered to a Safe Haven site safely.

(Appell, 2002)(Appell, 2002)

Safe Haven PlacesSafe Haven Places

HospitalsHospitals

Police StationsPolice Stations

Fire StationsFire Stations

Child Welfare agenciesChild Welfare agencies

In Wisconsin call 911 and someone will In Wisconsin call 911 and someone will come to pick up childcome to pick up child

www.childwelfare.orgwww.childwelfare.org

Ages for Safe HavenAges for Safe Haven

The ages of children to be placed in Safe The ages of children to be placed in Safe Haven site range from newborn to 30 Haven site range from newborn to 30 daysdays

North Dakota you have up to a yearNorth Dakota you have up to a year

One state, Nebraska, had a different One state, Nebraska, had a different approach…….approach…….

NebraskaNebraska

In the Original Law in Nebraska a parent In the Original Law in Nebraska a parent was able to hand over any child under the was able to hand over any child under the age of 18.age of 18.

In that year by November there were 36 In that year by November there were 36 children that were dropped off at hospitals. children that were dropped off at hospitals.

35 of the children were between 10 to 17. 35 of the children were between 10 to 17. One was under the age of 5.One was under the age of 5.

One year later their law changed to infants One year later their law changed to infants up to 30 days old.up to 30 days old.

Effects on children and Effects on children and adoptive parentsadoptive parents

Adopted children from a Safe Haven possibly may Adopted children from a Safe Haven possibly may not have any medical information from their not have any medical information from their biological parent.biological parent.

Adopted child may want to try to find their Adopted child may want to try to find their biological parent and there is no information biological parent and there is no information regarding that parent.regarding that parent.

Adopted child does not have knowledge of their Adopted child does not have knowledge of their origin, background or identity of parents.origin, background or identity of parents.

Adoptive parent fear that adopted child’s stability Adoptive parent fear that adopted child’s stability later on in life due to not having any information later on in life due to not having any information regarding child’s background.regarding child’s background.

(Appell, 2002)(Appell, 2002)

Problems with Safe Problems with Safe Haven (Target Haven (Target

Population)Population) Safe Haven Laws are trying to target parents that Safe Haven Laws are trying to target parents that

abandon their child in unsafe places. This population abandon their child in unsafe places. This population may have other factors that may influence their may have other factors that may influence their decision not use a Safe Haven:decision not use a Safe Haven:

Women in Denial or trying to conceal their pregnancy.Women in Denial or trying to conceal their pregnancy.

Unwanted pregnanciesUnwanted pregnancies

Financial issuesFinancial issues

Absence of child’s fatherAbsence of child’s father

Fear of family disapprovalFear of family disapproval

Emotional distressEmotional distress

Problems with Safe Problems with Safe HavenHaven

(Public Awareness)(Public Awareness) Some of the more high risk populations like high Some of the more high risk populations like high

school students and young adults may not be school students and young adults may not be getting information regarding Safe Haven.getting information regarding Safe Haven.

There is a lack of funding for education programs.There is a lack of funding for education programs.

50% of states with Safe Haven Laws have either 50% of states with Safe Haven Laws have either vetoed funding for Safe Haven education or have vetoed funding for Safe Haven education or have no legislation how to implement the law no legislation how to implement the law

Professionals who receive infants under the Safe Professionals who receive infants under the Safe Haven law may not be fully informed about law Haven law may not be fully informed about law and may not be able to give accurate information and may not be able to give accurate information to biological parentto biological parent

(Kunkel, 2007)(Kunkel, 2007)

Problems with Safe Haven Problems with Safe Haven (Termination Parental of (Termination Parental of

Rights)Rights) Problems with trying to serve notice to Problems with trying to serve notice to

biological parents for court hearings (in a biological parents for court hearings (in a state where it is required)state where it is required)

Problems with how to contact biological Problems with how to contact biological father.father.

Not enough clarity regarding judicial Not enough clarity regarding judicial procedures could cause a delay in procedures could cause a delay in permanency for child (Appell, 2002)permanency for child (Appell, 2002)

What States are doing to try What States are doing to try to get absentee parent to get absentee parent

informationinformation Some states use putative father registry Some states use putative father registry

before parental termination of rights can be before parental termination of rights can be filed. Utah gives notice to all father’s listed filed. Utah gives notice to all father’s listed on the registry.on the registry.

13 states contact law enforcement to make 13 states contact law enforcement to make sure child has not been reported missing.sure child has not been reported missing.

5 states have steps in place for non-5 states have steps in place for non-relinquishing father to petition for custody relinquishing father to petition for custody of the child.of the child.

www.childwelfare.orgwww.childwelfare.org

Child Welfare Child Welfare Information GatewayInformation Gateway

This website has a PDF resource called This website has a PDF resource called Infant Safe Haven Laws.Infant Safe Haven Laws.

This resource has a summary of all the This resource has a summary of all the states that have Safe Haven Laws which states that have Safe Haven Laws which include how old an infant can be, laws include how old an infant can be, laws regarding the relinquishing parent, and regarding the relinquishing parent, and how parental rights are affected.how parental rights are affected.

www.childwelfare.orgwww.childwelfare.org

National Safe National Safe Haven AllianceHaven AllianceWebsite gives a brief history Website gives a brief history

of Safe Havenof Safe Haven

Has a state locator that gives Has a state locator that gives information where to take and information where to take and

infant and how old infant infant and how old infant needs to beneeds to be

Link to state statutesLink to state statutes

Public service announcementsPublic service announcements

Stories of Safe Haven childrenStories of Safe Haven children

www.nationalsafehavenalliancwww.nationalsafehavenalliance.orge.org

What are Other States What are Other States Doing Regarding Safe Doing Regarding Safe

Haven LawHaven Law Fast track for termination to adoption for Fast track for termination to adoption for

Safe Haven childrenSafe Haven children

Safe Haven relinquishments equal Safe Haven relinquishments equal termination of parental rights.termination of parental rights.

20 states have a plan in place for a 20 states have a plan in place for a specified amount of time for parents to specified amount of time for parents to reclaim their child.reclaim their child.

www.childwelfare.orgwww.childwelfare.org

What about OhioWhat about Ohio

Once a child is at a Safe Haven that child is placed in Once a child is at a Safe Haven that child is placed in the custody of the child welfare agency in that county.the custody of the child welfare agency in that county.

Parents have 30 days to come back in regards to their Parents have 30 days to come back in regards to their child.child.

Parent has the right to remain anonymousParent has the right to remain anonymous

Parent is asked about medical information about the Parent is asked about medical information about the child and the parentchild and the parent

If child has an injury that appears to be abuse and If child has an injury that appears to be abuse and neglect an attempt will be made to identify the parent. neglect an attempt will be made to identify the parent. They are not free from being charged criminally.They are not free from being charged criminally.

Child can be placed at a hospital, police or fire station. Child can be placed at a hospital, police or fire station. Other places may be designated in your area.Other places may be designated in your area.

Online Resource for Online Resource for OhioOhio

Ohio Department of Job and Family Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Safe Haven for NewbornsServices Safe Haven for Newborns

Website talks about what is a safe haven. Website talks about what is a safe haven.

Has the medical information form for Has the medical information form for parents that want to relinquish their childparents that want to relinquish their child

There is also a PDF brochure giving more There is also a PDF brochure giving more information regarding Safe Haveninformation regarding Safe Haven

jfs.ohio.gov\safehavenjfs.ohio.gov\safehaven

Is Safe Haven Is Safe Haven EffectiveEffective

There is no evidence based information that There is no evidence based information that Safe Haven is effective.Safe Haven is effective.

Not all states gather data about the number of Not all states gather data about the number of abandoned children or how many infants are abandoned children or how many infants are turned in under Safe Haven. (Last count seen turned in under Safe Haven. (Last count seen was 2001)was 2001)

Safe Haven may not be able to help women Safe Haven may not be able to help women who are involved in neonaticide (death of their who are involved in neonaticide (death of their infant child) or leaving their child in an unsafe infant child) or leaving their child in an unsafe place due to other factors they may face and place due to other factors they may face and may not think of Safe Haven as an option. may not think of Safe Haven as an option. (Hatters et al, 2008)(Hatters et al, 2008)

BabbleBabble

Blog website that has information Blog website that has information regarding Safe Havenregarding Safe Haven

Has several news related stories regarding Has several news related stories regarding Safe Haven, some good and some badSafe Haven, some good and some bad

www.babble.comwww.babble.com

ReferencesReferences

Appell, A.R. (2002). Safe Havens to Abandon Babies, Part I: The Law. Adoption Quarterly, 5 (4), 59-69. 10.1300/J145v05n04_04  

Appell, A.R. (2002). Safe Havens to Abandon Babies, Part II: The Fit. Adoption Quarterly, 6(1), 61-69. 10.1300/J145v06n01_06 

Appell, A.R. (2002). Safe Havens to Abandon Babies, Part III: The Affects. Adoption Quarterly, 6(2), 67-76. 10.1300/J145v06n02_06

ArticlesArticles

There was only one article that did a good There was only one article that did a good job of explaining the different aspects of job of explaining the different aspects of Safe HavenSafe Haven

Annette R. Appell, Safe Haven to Abandon Annette R. Appell, Safe Haven to Abandon Babies, Part I, II, and IIIBabies, Part I, II, and III

Found in Adoption Quarterly Volumes 5 Found in Adoption Quarterly Volumes 5 and 6 in 2002and 6 in 2002

References References (continued)(continued)

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2010) Infant Safe Haven Laws: Summary of State Laws. Retrieved from http://www.childwelfare.gov 

Gustavsson, N.S., MacEachron, A.E. (2011) Lessons from Nebraska. Social Work, 56(2), 181-184.

Hatters Friedman, S., Resnick,P.J. (2008).Neonaticide: Phenomenology and considerations for prevention. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 32(2009), 43-47. doi: 10-1016/j.ijlp.2008.11.006

References References (continued)(continued)

Heath, C., Catlin, A. (2005). American Alternative for Unwanted Infants. Pediatric Nursing, 31(3), 229.  

Kunkel, K.A. (2007). Safe Haven Laws Focus on Abandoned Newborns and Their Mothers. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 22 (5), 397-401. Doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2007.08.004 

National Conference of State Legislatures. (2003) Child Welfare Project, Update: Safe Havens for Abandoned Infants. Retrieved from http://www.ncsl.org