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Teen still missing after fleeing Omaha hospital

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By TIMBERLY ROSS / The Associated Press

Friday, Nov 14, 2008 - 02:49:06 pm CST

OMAHA — Nebraska officials are dealing with yet another child abandoned under the state’s safe-haven law, even as police continue to search for a teenage girl who fled an Omaha hospital as her mother tried to abandon her and a sibling.

State officials said a 5-year-old boy from Sarpy County was dropped off at an Omaha hospital about 9 p.m. Thursday.

Earlier that day, a woman dropped off her 17-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son just after 3 p.m. Thursday, Methodist Hospital spokesman Ed Rider said.

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

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Safe haven law has unintended consequences

The girl fled, sparking a police search.

Jeanne Atkinson, a spokeswoman for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, said Friday morning that authorities have not reported finding the girl.

Her 14-year-old brother was taken in to state custody Thursday afternoon at the hospital.

Atkinson said the family was from Douglas County, which includes Omaha.

Nebraska was the last state to enact a safe-haven law, which is intended to protect unwanted newborns from being abandoned. But unlike other states, Nebraska’s law doesn’t include an age limit.

Counting Thursday’s incidents, 34 children have been abandoned under the law. Five of the children dropped off have been from out of state.

The Legislature opens a rare special session on Friday to change the law and add an age limit.

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. Those interpretations take the word “child’’ to mean “minor,’’ which in Nebraska includes anyone under the age of 19.

But Health and Human Services officials have said a separate state law pertaining to juveniles won’t let authorities take in children older than 17.

The revised safe-haven law could take effect as soon as senators pass and the governor signs it. Most legislators have already agreed to add an age limit of 3 days.

The final vote is expected Friday of next week.


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What a Mess wrote on November 13, 2008 5:24 pm:
" More unintended consequences. Now the kids, I'm sure in a panic, have decided to abandon their parents before the parents can abandon them. The unicameral better fix this situation, along with some other problems at HHS before next year's vacation season. Can you imagine --- hey kids, we're going to Nebraska! "

 DOC wrote on November 13, 2008 6:18 pm:
" I like the suggestion that has been advanced to totally repeal the law. Then that will give the legislature a time to consider what they should do without any time pressure. We lived without this law since 1867, a few more weeks won't hurt anything. "

 David in Boston wrote on November 13, 2008 6:19 pm:
" This law has made a laughing stock out of the Nebraska Legislature. Now you are going to limit it to only three days. Yes, I know other states have similar time limits, but why not take a chance and think about what the limit ought to be this time. What a bunch of ya-hoos! "

 Wow... wrote on November 13, 2008 7:05 pm:
" Well, the headline just says it all, doesn't it? "

 me wrote on November 13, 2008 7:10 pm:
" Run, baby, run. "

 JEN wrote on November 13, 2008 7:13 pm:
" I don't blame her. I would do the exact same thing had my parents attempted to do that when I was a teen. "

 forest wrote on November 13, 2008 8:56 pm:
" i think the law should be more than 3 days, but im really glad this girl ran! a 17 year old is better off supporting herself since she will graduate high school in what, six months! she is better off living with friends or whoever then let the state toss her around until she is 18! "

 sure wrote on November 13, 2008 9:06 pm:
" You really think this girl is in school? Just a guess. Poor girl has had a pretty tough life, I bet. I really feel for kids like this, with no decent life or supportive family. How can they be expected to live a normal life, contribute to society, be good parents, etc. So sad that there are so many lost souls out there, and by this time it's too late. "

 Unreal wrote on November 13, 2008 10:25 pm:
" "David in Boston" is right, I'm getting pretty sick of friends that have
called me from 3 states, AGAIN, laughing their heads off at Nebraska's
laws!! A 17 year old, I'd run off too! The sad thing is she probably
doesn't have enough education to get a job to support herself. Its time
the parents are taken into custody and straightened out!! Why are these
kids have to pay the price for their parents and Nebraska's laws?? "

 Yup wrote on November 13, 2008 10:52 pm:
" Some of you apparently aren't reading the stories about some of the children that were already abandoned. Some of them have run away repeatedly, have defiant behavior problems, have threatened their parent(s) and siblings, have mental health issues, and Unreal thinks the parents should be taken into custody and straightened out. I don't think people understand the truly desperate situation some of these families are in. The parent(s) love their children more than you think, these parents want their child to be safe and get help. They have tried to get help, but have not had luck or it's brutally expensive. The law is working, these children are getting the help they need. As for the 17 year old, I would guess that she might have run away before, and is hanging out with her friends. "

 Lydia wrote on November 13, 2008 10:55 pm:
" Obviously there is something wrong going on here. In the homes, as well as with the system. Parents are having a difficult time with kids, and services are not as easily available as one might think. Too many hoops to jump through, and a parent gets tired and throws their hands up. On one hand I understand, on the other, as much as my own children can test me, I cannot imagine myself taking that ride to the hospital. BUT, one thing I can say is this: Who really cares if people are embarrassed, or ashamed, have friends call from other states, or are overseas and are questioned about it, all the what-nots about "Nebraska is a laughing stock", obviously it's shedding light to something that is going on that perhaps Health and Human Services, as well as the legislature should take a deeper look at. Instead, the conservative minds are more concerned for the "image" of good old wholesome Nebraska, I guess things aren't going as good as it seems, and it's best to hide the situation under the rug or out in the woods instead of facing it up front and coming up with a solution. These parents are taking advantage of this loophole, crying out for help before the door is shut, and nothing will be done about it. Maybe then all the naysayers and complainers will be happy living a lie. Good Night! "

 Question wrote on November 14, 2008 8:12 am:
" I know the law needs to be amended with some kind of age limit. Perhaps 10 days would be reasonable. My question is about the children that were dropped off from other states. Are Nebraska taxpayers having to foot the bill to send these children back to the state they were from? "

 I dont understand wrote on November 14, 2008 2:34 pm:
" What ever happened to Boys/Girl Town, Geneva, or other places like that? What makes parents think that we should pay for them to abandon their kids -- its not fair to the children!! I want to know what the parents are thinking about as they drive up to the hospital and say, ok kids you are going to stay here until some strangers come and take you away and put you into other strangers homes until they can find another place to move you too and so on and so forth. I had an unexpected pregnancy and I would never think about just leaving my child that I have felt kick and move inside me for 9-months at a place where you know that they will be placed in a foster home and moved over and over again until finally someone wants to adopt them. Why not just consider adoption when you find out. I didn't I kept my baby and she is the biggest blessing in my life!!! I thank God everyday for my little girl and I always will. "

 John Holmes wrote on November 14, 2008 4:17 pm:
" Top story on CNN.com- "Don't bring your teens to Nebraska." "

 MA wrote on November 14, 2008 4:34 pm:
" This saddens me because it seems that all we do is keep count of all these kids that have been abandoned by their families. Does it ever occur to someone that the more we keep this media coverage going it is being read by more people everyday and giving them the idea that it is okay to just "drop off" their children? "

 Hope shes safe wrote on November 14, 2008 5:24 pm:
" I pray that she is safe and not "on the streets" in Omaha. I hope this law (what I support) is showing everyone what a joke of a system the state of Nebraska has. They need to figure out first why all these children are being take to a safe place for help, maybe its because most have been told that there is no help for them, so what other options do they have? "

 DEF wrote on November 14, 2008 5:42 pm:
" Oh my!!! its like a numbers race what is going to hit 40 first - number of safe haven dropoffs or murders in Omaha. I think we are now tied at 35. "

 Really sad commentary wrote on November 14, 2008 6:03 pm:
" there's obviously a big need to provide Some support for parents of teens who are troubled and in over their heads.They are obviously at their wit's end with many of these kids.I believe if they were uncaring parents then they'd simply neglect them and not drop them off to be cared for. I think they're trying to get as much help as they can. "

 There are plenty of... wrote on November 15, 2008 8:08 am:
" ...resources out there if the parents were willing to pick up a phone and figure it out. You don't need to dsesert your kids. "

 Nebraska Personn wrote on November 16, 2008 10:30 pm:
" Wow! I would do thee samee thing. andd I cant belive They would put that on the news.. that there changing it on fridayy wow thats like saying you have one week to drop off unwanted children seriously. Nebraska is a quiet state... the last time we made thew news is because os the "mall masecure" [[err howw ever you spell itt]] Nebraska doesnt want the spott lightt... nor does it need it. "

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