Quote:
Originally Posted by ZionWoman
So, I just watched a segment on Nebraska's new safe haven law and I put this question to you. Is it really in the child's and family's best interest to abandon? I mean really? Would it not be better to support and help the families and provide services to teach and support them? Can't most of the baby abandonment be traced back to PPD? Shouldn't we be supporting families in stead of giving them an out?
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There is something where I live called a crisis nursery. There are a few here in the state. This is how they work. You can drop off your children for 48 hrs without the police or social services being involved. The nurser has couples that stay there full time and rotate in and out. The kids get to stay in a safe beautiful place. When the parent comes back to get their children they are offered help in getting food services (wic foodstamps) if needed. They are offered parenting classes and are even able to apply for the peer parenting program. They also offer drug counciling. The parent has it there but they have to choose to use it.
The need this fulfills in my mind is this: A parent in that stressful situation is usually really young, poor, and doesn't have a family support system. The crisis nursery is there to help take the place of that. I think they prevent situations where pa could happen because the parent has a choice.
If the kids are not picked up in 48 hours then social services is called. I think safe haven laws must be in place for infants. I have a brother that was left in a garbage can (story for another time). But I think if his mom had known of somewhere else to leave him she would have. And she was never a capable parent. I don't think there is one service that will cover it all I think there has to be more than one option.