Baby Monograph

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The NatureBaby Aband

Definition of Baby Ab

The complexity of the issues surrounconfusion about the precise definitiobabies has been used in many differen

ing in the Abandoned Infants Assistain P.L. 102-236, 1991), which refersdo not go home with their parents infection, or other child protection ismeaning in common speech, where born in hospitals and are left in unsseparate group of children who are many categories of children labelled amay be impossible to change the nalance, advocates must be aware of th

Recent attention to the problemlegislative remedies, are responses t

left in unsafe public places. Despite thproblem. Therefore, in this monograto discarding or leaving alone, for an than 12 months of age in a public or of the child,2 and abandoned babies refthis manner. This definition is not nmunities. In fact, definitions vary wi


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Baby Abandonment26

Data regarding the effect of the law should be collected.

Safe haven laws should allocate funding for implementation.

A public information program, including a 24-hour toll-free hotline andwritten pamphlets, should be available with information on prenatal care,adoption, safe havens, and the consequences of child endangerment.

Sunset clauses should be included in safe haven legislation to ensure thatlaws are evaluated.

Conclusion

Baby abandonment incorporates medcomponents. It requires comprehensiRecent media coverage of the issue hronment that is conducive to action. Gconcerned individuals can take advanlasting solutions, but they should alconsider the broader range of issues education, unwanted pregnancy, and

Safe haven laws may be part oproblem of baby abandonment, but states must carefully consider in dehaven programs. Existing resources the creation of safe havens is an appIn drafting safe haven laws, states showorks that protect the rights of both

Long-term solutions will requireat-risk population to facilitate the decrisis services. Gaps in current systemuse existing resources well. Researchdonment of babies will require adeqrequire governments, social service a

committed to prevention and educatresult of abandonment is an importsufficient response to the problem. be prevented, and parents must be prmake safe and beneficial decisions fo


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For More IFor more information about baby results from CWLAs Infant Abandoacted state safe haven laws, please visat http://www.cwla.org/programs/babor contact:

Lupe Hittle

DirectorCrittenton Child, Youth, and Fa

Child Welfare League of Ameri50 F Street, NW, 6th FloorWashington, DC 20001Phone 202/9420293Fax 202/7373687

Bianca I. Laureano

Program Manager, Adolescent SexCrittenton Child, Youth, and FaChild Welfare League of Ameri50 F Street, NW, 6th FloorWashington, DC 20001Phone 202/9420282

Fax 202/7373687


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Endnotes

1. The U.S. Department of Healthfines three categories of infantsnot in the custody of their paremain in the hospital beyond thdoned babies: infants who have are unlikely to leave the hospitachild welfare agency and/or the (3) discarded babies: living infanate place without care or supervcause of death was related to the

2. Definition agreed on by participsium hosted by the Child Welfa

3. Two states have amended their oage of legal relinquishment: Indiato 45 days, and Texas increased t

4. This presumption allows legal prrental rights and protecting the sconcrete proof that the relinquisrebuttable, meaning that a parentwas not authorized by the parent


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References

Abandoned Infants Assistance Act, P.L. 100-

Bernstein, N. (2001, August 31). Few wom

The New York Times.

Brasier, L. L. (2002, January 30). Despite l

Press. Available from http://www.detroi

Brief summary: I nformation related to discarded

California, Berkeley, Abandoned Infants

/socrates.berkeley.edu/~ aiarc/discarde

Child Welfare League of America. (1998). S

nancy prevention, pregnant adolescents, and

Davidson, H. (2000, Winter). Legal reform in

Delaware House Bill 120, Section 3, 9

legis.state.de.us.

Illinois Public Act 92-0408, Section 5 (20

publicacts/pubact92/acts/92-0408.htm

Montana Senate Bill 132 (2001). Available fro

SB0132.htm.

Satcher, D. (2001). The Surgeon Generals ca

sexual behavior. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Surge

and Prevention.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Serv

(1999).Abandoned babies: Preliminary na

able from http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/new

U.S. Department of Health and Human Serv

Administration on Children, Youth and

tional estimates of the number of boarder ba

Contract No. 105-94-2019, Delivery

Bell Associates.

Yardley, J. (1999, December 26). Aflurr y o

why. The New York Times, Section 1, p. 1


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