This could be a baaaad idea?

[tannybogus]

Nebraska's "Safe Haven" Law Allows Parents To Abandon Unwanted Children

OMAHA, Neb. — Nebraska's new "safe-haven" law allowing parents to abandon unwanted children at hospitals with no questions asked is unique in a significant way: It goes beyond babies and potentially permits the abandonment of anyone under 19.

While lawmakers may not have intended it, the month-old law raises the possibility that frustrated parents could drop off misbehaving teens or even severely disabled older children with impunity.

"Whether the kid is disabled or unruly or just being a hormonal teenager, the state is saying: 'Hey, we have a really easy option for you,'" said Adam Pertman, executive director of a New York adoption institute and a frequent critic of safe-haven laws.

Nebraska's approach is surprising because it is the last state in the nation to adopt a safe-haven law.

But instead of following the lead of other states, which focus on the abandonment of newborns, lawmakers here wanted to extend the protection to all minors. And in Nebraska, that goes all the way up to age 19.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/22/nebrasks-safe-haven-law-a_n_120757.html

On the one hand, nobody wants a child left in a horrible situation. On the other hand, every teenager in Nebraska may be left somewhere.

[frogmarch]

1. Really, what teenager

would stay put if dropped off?

[tannybogus]

4. Didn't say they would stay there.

It would just be a place for a parent to legally wash their hands of them.

[Cleita]

2. Well, there is already a system in place for kids whose parents

don't want them. For rich kids, it's called boarding school or for boys, military academy. I have known less affluent parents also take their kids to juvie hall claiming they committed a crime or turning them over to foster care. I don't know if this might be a better system because at least it might identify the at risk kids in homes with un-nurturing parents. It does appear extreme though.

[DearAbby]

3. It could be where a teen can go in an abusive situation?

In that case it is a very good idea. Teens or pre-teens caught in an abusive situation have a place to go. I am sure they could have before the law, but now it is advertised. May save someone's life.

[tannybogus]

5. It doesn't say anything about self-dropoff.

I'm not sure what they would do. Kids do need a place to go, but then you
turn around and the parents want them back. I'm not saying something like
this shouldn't be tried, but I'm not sure anybody has thought through the
consequences and how to deal with them.

[psychmommy]

6. there are alot of kids out there that just leave and nobody

cares. they are called throw away kids. no child deserves to be left uncared for, a safe haven is an awesome thing. no child is a throw away.

[Nikki Stone1]

7. Well, it does give parents something new to threaten their kids with

"Clean your room or I'm dumping you at the hospital!"

[EC]

8. Aren't kids adults at 18?

There are an awful lot of homeless teens...maybe in this day and age when people are losing homes this may be an alternative to living in a car or on the streets...

[spanone]

9. it's probably not an 'easy option' for any parent. that's a pretty flip statement

"Whether the kid is disabled or unruly or just being a hormonal teenager, the state is saying: 'Hey, we have a really easy option for you,'" said Adam Pertman, executive director of a New York adoption institute and a frequent critic of safe-haven laws.

bs

[carlyhippy]

10. I can see this being a good thing for a parent of an unwanted baby

better than leaving the baby in the trash as has occured in the past, but a teenager?

[northernlights]

11. when I was 14

my parents started going away for weekends and leaving me locked out in the street. I wasn't a bad kid and I didn't grow up in a bad neighborhood -- our neighbors were literally doctors, lawyers, executives, a NASA scientist...My parents just were narcissistic nuts, their 2 favorites were moved out and I had always been expendable, nothing more than a pawn in their power games.

It would have given me a safe haven without the shame of approaching the higher class neighbors.

If parents have so little caring or parenting skills that they'll dump their teens, then the kids may be better off elsewhere, even a hospital.

[BlueIris]

12. Good post. Thanks for sharing this painful story. nt