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Girl, 15, dropped off in Omaha hospital

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 - 08:53:59 pm CDT

A 15-year-old girl was dropped off at Immanuel Hospital in Omaha Tuesday evening, marking the 14th instance that Nebraska’s safe haven law has been put to use.

The girl’s father left her at the hospital, according to a press release from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. It is believed that the girl is from Nebraska, according to the release.

This is the 14th instance of use of LB157, the safe haven law, and the 22nd child left at a hospital under the law since Sept. 13. 

Story Photo
This file photo from Aug. 22 shows a sign proclaiming a Nebraska hospital a safe haven. (AP File)

Children left under Nebraska’s safe-haven law

Nebraska’s safe-haven law lets caregivers leave a child of any age at a hospital without fear of prosecution for the abandonment. Since it went into effect on July 18, it has been used to abandon 22 children. Here’s a breakdown:

Sept. 13: 11-year-old boy from Douglas County left at Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha; 15-year-old boy from Lancaster County left at Lincoln’s BryanLGH Medical Center West

Sept. 20: 13-year-old girl from Douglas County left at Immanuel Medical Center

Sept. 24: unrelated 15- and 11-year-old boys from Douglas County left at Immanuel Medical Center; nine siblings from Douglas County ranging in age from 1 to 17 left at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha

Oct. 5: 12-year-old boy Douglas County left at Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha; 12-year-old boy from Lancaster County left at Lincoln’s BryanLGH Medical Center West.

Oct. 7: 14-year-old girl from Council Bluffs, Iowa, left at Creighton University Medical Center.

Oct. 13: 13-year-old boy from the Detroit, Mich., area left at Creighton University Medical Center.

Wednesday: 17-year-old boy from Douglas County left at Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha.

Saturday: 12-year-old boy from the Atlanta suburb of Smyrna, Ga., left at BryanLGH Medical Center East in Lincoln.

Monday: 15-year-old girl from Douglas County left at Creighton University Medical Center.

Tuesday: 15-year-old girl believed to be from Nebraska left at Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha.

By the Associated Press

Source: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services


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Lincoln Taxpayer wrote on October 28, 2008 8:13 pm:
" This is out of control. It's time to call the special session. "

 Lincoln Tax Payer 2 wrote on October 28, 2008 8:51 pm:
" I agree call the special session now. This needs to end know "

 Disagree wrote on October 28, 2008 9:02 pm:
" I disagree with Lincoln Taxpayer. If there are behavioral or other family problems, there's a good chance we (the taxpayers) will be paying for these kids' treatment at some point. Stabilizing the situation before it becomes a bigger mess down the road (i.e. kids running away, turning to alcohol/drugs, violence, etc) seems like a much better idea. Obviously there's a need that is going unmet or there is insufficient explanation of options that parents have when things turn bad. "

 Omaha Taxpayer wrote on October 28, 2008 9:06 pm:
" From the first drop off something should have been done. "

 Concerned citizen wrote on October 28, 2008 9:19 pm:
" I agree that the law needs to be changed, but I think more importantly is we need to find the reason why parents feel that this is their only option. Obviously we are failing when families cannot get the help that they need for their children, so they turn to the only alternative, which is to abandoned the child so he/she can get help. "

 Eric wrote on October 28, 2008 9:19 pm:
" What level of insanity do the posters here possess? Each and everyone of these dropoffs throws up a huge red flag to the state of available help to these children and their parents. It is obvious that something needs to change and IT ISNT THE SAFE HAVEN LAW. You people who post negative comments here need to walk a mile in these parents shoes to truly understand their situation. Until you do that you have absolutely no right to speak up. So please, do us all a favor and SHUT UP!!! "

 educator wrote on October 28, 2008 9:40 pm:
" Is this out of control? or is this a cry for help? Reporters, media, and others are always saying there are other options, tell the parents what they are!!!

As I understand the wording of the bill (stating "child" instead of "newborn") is the result of a legislator (who has since gone because of term limits). If a special session is called, this legislator will need to come back to the special session. If the governor waits and deals with the situation with the new term, this legislator will no longer be in attendance. I think that is why a special session is not being called and this will be dealt with in 2009.

Whether it's out of control or not - something needs to be done. Help is needed! "

 Chunky Peanut Butter wrote on October 28, 2008 10:12 pm:
" Darn right, let's force these children to stay with these rotten parents. It's just not our problem. "

 another safe teen wrote on October 28, 2008 10:12 pm:
" said it before and will say it again - another teen is getting help. We've opened Pandora's box and can't ignore the problem now by simply changing the law. Whether there are resources available or not, these parents certainly don't think so. Which means they are not READILY available or EASY to obtain for the average person. It does no good if the people who need it don't know about it. "

 Michael wrote on October 28, 2008 10:39 pm:
" One other comment...Yes, we (the boys mother and I) were at a point that we would have dropped him off...for everyone's sanity, and quite possibly his safety. "

 ridiculous wrote on October 29, 2008 1:00 am:
" So the safe haven law overrides abandonment?
These "drop offs" have made national news and it makes Nebraska look like they are unable to word the law right!
Besides the fact that these people are abusing what was suppose to be something helpful. There are other routes these people could use. This law wasn't meant for this! "

 Mom wrote on October 29, 2008 6:17 am:
" I have been a foster mom for a teen and for a baby. I have also been temporary guardian for three other teenagers. There is a need for a Safe Haven for all ages. If I hadn't accepted these teenagers into my home, they would have been homeless, running the streets and committing crimes. No matter what reason the parents are dropping the children at Save Haven, these teens are in need of a safe enviroment before they become high risk wards of the State. It costs the taxpayers more money to support teens in detention centers then a teen placed in foster care with counseling and life skills are provided. The state needs to increase the number of caseworkers for HHS so families who want voluntary services can get the help immediately before it's too late for the child. "

 Comm UnSense wrote on October 29, 2008 7:04 am:
" They are talking about changing the law to allow only children 3 days old or younger. We haven't had a single child dropped off that was that young. Seems to me we are helping more children with the law as it is. The only change that needs to be made is to limit the law to children of Nebraska residents and possibly require some evidence that the parents have tried other avenues before dropping off the children. In each case where an out of state child was dropped off, they were returned to their home state. I also don't want this to become an 'easy out' for parents that haven't put any effort into finding other solutions. There is an abvious problem here that needs to be dealt with and this law seems to be doing the job pretty well. "

 Certainly Issues wrote on October 29, 2008 8:02 am:
" I am all for the law as is, it keeps my wife in a job. And 3 days old is not going to work either. Who makes that decision that fast, and 3 years they will want the child back causing more damage to the kid.

Look these kids need help and their parents cannot do it financially or mentally. I would rather have these kids safe than dead. If this saves one of these kids it has done its job. And MAYBE when these kids think about having kids they will reflect back on this situation and say "I am not ready" or I want to be a better parent than mine was. "

 Lincolnite wrote on October 29, 2008 8:11 am:
" 22 minors in one month. I still don't think we should change the law - so far these children have ALL been put in safer, more stable environments AS A RESULT OF THIS LAW. I don't know all of the circumstances, and frankly I don't care -- if the guardian has opted for this, I think we as a society owe it to these children to take them in and care for them.

Go ahead and bring on the arguments. Do you want these kids to go back to unsafe/unstable situations??!? "

 concerned mom wrote on October 29, 2008 9:21 am:
" How can you say this is an easy out for parents? I have very good children so I don't understand what some of these parents are going through but I see these behaviors from a teacher's eyes. The parents of these children have not had an "easy" time. Is it easy to leave your child off at a hospital? I imagine they are at their wit's end and feel they have no other options. I don't think it's every easy to admit failure and take advantage of the safe haven law. Most parents have no idea what these parents have been through so don't cast the first stone or put them down until you have lived one day in their shoes. "

 silverd wrote on October 29, 2008 5:38 pm:
" I think that someone needs to launch a campaign showing parents what other options are available to them with troubled children. And as far as walking a mile in their shoes...I had my daughter when I was 17 and I know what it is like to struggle; trying to finish high school and raise a child...it is very hard but I did it and for the most part, I did it on my own. I never got financial aid from the state...I had 2 jobs. I think that society today makes it seem ok for people to just give their kids up because they can't handle the responsibility of their actions. I understand that there are difficult children, but take a step back and look at your actions and maybe you will find what examples you are setting for your children and you will learn where their behavior problems are coming from. "

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