BABY LEFT AT ELYRIA HOSPITAL
Elyria – A baby was dropped off at Elyria Memorial Hospital Monday after after being born on Super Bowl Sunday.
The baby girl was born at home during the Super Bowl and was delivered to the hospital by her Aunt Monday morning with the explanation that the parents “ could not handle a third child”.
Lorain County Children Services has taken custody of the child and is conducting an investigation.
This marks the fourth newborn that has been surrendered in Lorain County under the Safe Haven Law.
According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Ohio “Safe Haven” law says that the birth parent (mother or father) can take a child to a Safe Haven. The law provides protection from prosecution only for the child’s parents.
What is Safe Havens for Newborns?
Not all women who get pregnant are ready to raise a child. Sometimes they see no options except to abandon the baby. Safe Havens provides a new option. It allows a birth parent to leave a newborn infant (less than 72 hours old) with: a medical worker in a hospital; a medical worker at a fire department or other emergency service organization; or a peace officer at a law enforcement agency.
If the infant is left with a person at one of these places, and has not been abused, the parent will face no legal consequences for making this choice.
Who can take a newborn to a Safe Haven?
The birth parent (mother or father) can take a child to a Safe Haven. The law provides protection from prosecution only for the child 's parents.
Does the birth parent have to call before taking an infant to a Safe Haven?
No. A birth parent may take a newborn to a Safe Haven at any time until the child is 72 hours, or three days, old.
What information will the birth parent have to provide?
The birth parent is not required to provide any information, including his or her name. However, it would help the baby if the birth parent chose to provide basic health information. The birth parent will be offered a form to guide them in providing the most important health information.
What happens next?
If the baby needs medical attention, it will be provided. The professional staff person who accepts the baby will contact the county children services agency; and the baby will be placed in an adoptive home. There are many families who want to adopt a baby.
When a parent cannot care for an infant, leaving the baby at a Safe Haven may be the best choice for the child. If the birth parent is not sure about this decision, an adoption social worker can help by providing information on available options and services for birth parents and their babies.
The baby girl was born at home during the Super Bowl and was delivered to the hospital by her Aunt Monday morning with the explanation that the parents “ could not handle a third child”.
Lorain County Children Services has taken custody of the child and is conducting an investigation.
This marks the fourth newborn that has been surrendered in Lorain County under the Safe Haven Law.
According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Ohio “Safe Haven” law says that the birth parent (mother or father) can take a child to a Safe Haven. The law provides protection from prosecution only for the child’s parents.
What is Safe Havens for Newborns?
Not all women who get pregnant are ready to raise a child. Sometimes they see no options except to abandon the baby. Safe Havens provides a new option. It allows a birth parent to leave a newborn infant (less than 72 hours old) with: a medical worker in a hospital; a medical worker at a fire department or other emergency service organization; or a peace officer at a law enforcement agency.
If the infant is left with a person at one of these places, and has not been abused, the parent will face no legal consequences for making this choice.
Who can take a newborn to a Safe Haven?
The birth parent (mother or father) can take a child to a Safe Haven. The law provides protection from prosecution only for the child 's parents.
Does the birth parent have to call before taking an infant to a Safe Haven?
No. A birth parent may take a newborn to a Safe Haven at any time until the child is 72 hours, or three days, old.
What information will the birth parent have to provide?
The birth parent is not required to provide any information, including his or her name. However, it would help the baby if the birth parent chose to provide basic health information. The birth parent will be offered a form to guide them in providing the most important health information.
What happens next?
If the baby needs medical attention, it will be provided. The professional staff person who accepts the baby will contact the county children services agency; and the baby will be placed in an adoptive home. There are many families who want to adopt a baby.
When a parent cannot care for an infant, leaving the baby at a Safe Haven may be the best choice for the child. If the birth parent is not sure about this decision, an adoption social worker can help by providing information on available options and services for birth parents and their babies.
posted by TMC NEWS at 1:42 PM
4 Comments:
Can the surrendering parent contact the hotlines following the surrender of the baby?
We request that the parents contact the hotline following a newborn surrender at a safe haven. Many times the crisis subsides after the baby is in safe hands, the parents have second thoughts, or the counseling given by the hotline helps alleviate some stress that caused the baby to be surrendered. Also, the parents may want to give improtant medical or familial histories once the newborn is placed in safe hands at the safe haven.
In Massachusetts we've had 6 babies safely surrendered under our three year old law. All 6 women had multiple contacts with our hotline both before and following the surrender of their babies. Four of the six Moms signed full adoption contracts a short time after the surrender of the babies due to proper counseling being received through the hotlines. All 6 newborns have their full medical histories due to the active hotline contacts with women in crisis.
Promote the hotlines and web sites, and help save lives -- both the Mom and baby.
I hope that what ever the outcome of the investigation is, the Grand Parents do not suffer any leagel consequences. It sounds like the mother could not take care of the child, and the grand Parents are taking care of more then one and cant handle another. Sounds like they did the right thing, the child is safe.
Randy
I'm glad that the baby was surrendered in a place where it would be well cared for and possibly find a home where someone will love it.
I am also glad that this baby was not left in a garbage dumpster. Too many nationwide are abandoned in an innappropriate place and die needlessly.
I hope that the birth mother really thinks about this decision and can live with it for the next 18 years or longer. Patsy
It was the 22 year old aunt that left the baby for the parents not a grand parent.
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