Nebraska to Alter Safe-Haven Law

Beginning Sept. 13, a total of 24 parents or guardians dropped off one child each, ranging in age from 5 to 17. One woman abandoned two children, but one of them fled before police arrived.

On Sept. 24, a man surrendered nine of his 10 children. He said his wife had died last year and he could not raise them alone.

Two days later, Nebraska children and family services director Todd A. Landry appealed to adults to try other options. He said the safe-haven law was designed to protect "helpless children" in immediate danger, such as "an infant who is left outside or unattended."

"It was not intended," Landry said, "for those having difficult parenting older youth who may be defiant, unruly or who have behavior problems."

But word of the law was spreading, even getting a mention on "Saturday Night Live" in October when comedian Seth Meyers said the law "allows parents to abandon their children without fear of prosecution -- or what is known in Manhattan as a boarding school." The show was widely watched that night, with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin a featured guest.

All states have some version of a safe-haven law for infants, but Nebraska's experience has delivered two lessons, experts said. The first is that families need services, such as respite care and psychiatric attention, before their lives reach a crisis point. The second is that the services need to be widely known and accessible.

"We all make it somewhat difficult for people to get these services. We do have to do a better job of making sure we're engaging parents," said Rawlings, a former juvenile court judge in Georgia.

One drop-off came Wednesday, when a Florida man left his 11-year-old son at Boys Town National Research Hospital. Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services said one of its employees will accompany the boy on his return trip to Florida, where he will be placed in the custody of that state's Department of Children and Families.

Legislators intend to have a new law ready for Gov. Dave Heineman (R) to sign by Friday, said Flood, who described himself as "committed to looking at the bigger issue" when the legislature opens a new session in January.

"What I really believe has occurred here in Nebraska is a wake-up call to this nation that there are families who are living in incredible desperation," said Wayne Sensor, chief executive of Alegent Health, where Anderson works. "These are not parents or guardians who are taking an easy way out. These are people who simply do not know what else to do."

Staff writer Kari Lydersen contributed to this report.