- Email: [email protected]
Newborn Abandonment: Finding Legislative Solutions
Linda Chagnon RNC, M K A . MN
Abandonment Finding LegisIat ive So Iutio ns
statistics and many of these newborns are never found. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that as many as 100 newborns are abandoned in public places each year, with nearly a third of those infants found dead (Sussman, 2000). Most people, women particularly, find it shocking to hear these types of stories on the evening news-a baby abandoned to a trash dumpster or left out in an alley for dead. They find it outrageous that a mother could d o such an act. It’s important, however, Linda Chagnon, RNC, MBA, MN, is manager of the Women’s Clinic 8 Lactation Services at Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue, WA, and a member of the AWHONN Health Policy/Legislative Committee.
AuWWSeptember 2001
to recognize that the women who abandon their babies are most often young, confused and scared-and they typically think they have no other alternative. Many are in denial that they a r e - o r ever were-pregnant.
PROGRAMS IN ACTION To address the problem regarding the growing number of newborns who are being abandoned, 15 states have enacted infant abandonment laws and more than 20 other states are working on similar legislation. Most of these laws have developed out of grassroots efforts by volunteer organizations, many of which are headed by health care professionals. One such group is The Baby Moses Project
(1999) in Texas, which became the first state to enact a newborn abandonment law. The project’s mission is to publicize a practical and responsible alternative to child abandonment, in addition to educating the general public on the importance of this issue. However, what activists in Texas learned after the legislation passed was that few people were aware of the law-and legislation without publicity is ineffective. Another program that was set up in Minnesota is Safe Place for Newborns (2000).The Safe Place program serves as a resource on the national level to other states considering implementing similar programs. The founding purpose and continuing mis-
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25
sion of Safe Place for Newborns is to save the lives of newborns in danger of abandonment and to help preserve the health and future of their mothers. This organization is a great resource to anyone wanting to help with passing legislation in his or her state.
intended to provide for the establishment of a task force within the Bureau of Justice Statistics to gather information about, study and report to Congress regarding the incidence of public abandonment of infant children (Abandoned Infants Assistance,
draft a policy. Volunteer to speak at nursing rnawareness of newborn abandonment as well as what can be done for these vulnerable newborns. One nurse who has played a key role in advocating for newborn aban2000). donment programs is Sandra Cesario, RNC, PhD, assistant proWRITING LEGISLATION fessor in the College of startr'ng Your OUJ?I safe P k As the laws have develNursing at Texas Minnesota's Safe Place program has a n abundance of material oped, they've gotten betWomen's University, who on its Web site to help people in other locations begin their ter and more comprehenbecame a member of the own program. Surf to www.safeplace.org for documents sive. In fact, most newHarris County Baby including a "Guide to Starting a Program" and "How to born abandonment laws Abandonment Task Force Develop Hospital Procedures." contain several key in Texas (Cesario, 2001 ). tenets: She has also been awarded a Perry Grant to undertake a Nurses continue to play key roles Anonymous: This guarantee helps three-pronged study of the phenomein advocating for newborn abandonalleviate the woman's fear that non of newborn abandonment. One ment programs. You can get someone will find out about her part of her study involves sending o u t involved by, first, finding out if your pregnancy surveys to nurses. Another example state has passed legislation regarding Free of Prosecution: The woman of nurses getting involved is in Washabandonment. If it has, request a will not be prosecuted for abandonington State, where two retired regiscopy of the law and get involved with ment if she chooses to leave her tered nurses organized a coalition to the organization that spearheaded its newborn in a designated location, support passing legislation for newpassage. usually some type of health care facility If your state has not passed legislaborn abandonment. Information regarding newborn tion regarding newborn abandonUnharmed: The newborn must not abandonment can be obtained by ment, seek out the grassroots organibe harmed for the guarantees of surfing the Internet. zation that is lobbying for the law. anonymity and immunity to apply Many of these groups would relish T i e Period: Because of the vulnerReferences the participation of a perinatal nurse, ability of a newborn's first hours, who is an advocate for mothers and laws designate a certain time period Abandoned Infants ~ ~ ~ newborns. that the woman has to bring the (2000).Brief summary: InforNext, one of the biggest issues newborn to safety mation related to discarded infants (Fact Sheet). Berkeley, after passing legislation is informing Location: Facilities are identified in CA: Author. the law that will accept newThe Baby Moses Project. (1999). borns from the woman withA Safe Place for Newborns: Saving abandoned newout fear of prosecution www.safeplacefornewbrns.org borns: Frequently asked At the federal level, there have questions about- The A secret safe place for Newborns: been two legislative actions. The www.saveabandonedbabies.org Baby Moses Project [Online]. Available: first is House Resolution 465, National Abandoned Infana Assistance www. ba bymoses.org. introduced and passed in April center: Cesario, S. (2001,Winter). New2000, which suggests that local, born abandonment: What (510) 643-8390, aiaQuclink4.berkeley.edu state and federal governments is being done? Baby Care should collect and disseminate The &zby Moses Pmject: Forum, pp. 1-2. statistics on the number of newwww. ba bymoses.org Safe Place for Newborns. (2000). born babies abandoned in pubStart the Dropram in lic places and encourage states your area [Online]. the public. Nurses are in a unique to follow Texas's lead with legislation Available: www. position to help disseminate inforaddressing this issue. sa feplacefornewborns.org. mation to schools, health care faciliSussman, D. (2000).Abandoned The second piece of legislation is ties and many volunteer organizababies: Legislators, health offiH.R. 4222,introduced on April 10, tions. Check to see if your hospital cials unite to curb recent trend. 2000, by Representative Sheila Jackhas policies in place if a woman Nurseweek.com [Online]. son-Lee (D-Texas), and may be cited were to bring in a newborn to the Available: www. as the "Baby Abandonment Prevenemergency room, and if not, help nurseweek.com. tion Act of 2000." This bill is a
A W H O N N Lifelines
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Volume 5,Issue 4
Abandonment Finding LegisIat ive So Iutio ns
statistics and many of these newborns are never found. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that as many as 100 newborns are abandoned in public places each year, with nearly a third of those infants found dead (Sussman, 2000). Most people, women particularly, find it shocking to hear these types of stories on the evening news-a baby abandoned to a trash dumpster or left out in an alley for dead. They find it outrageous that a mother could d o such an act. It’s important, however, Linda Chagnon, RNC, MBA, MN, is manager of the Women’s Clinic 8 Lactation Services at Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue, WA, and a member of the AWHONN Health Policy/Legislative Committee.
AuWWSeptember 2001
to recognize that the women who abandon their babies are most often young, confused and scared-and they typically think they have no other alternative. Many are in denial that they a r e - o r ever were-pregnant.
PROGRAMS IN ACTION To address the problem regarding the growing number of newborns who are being abandoned, 15 states have enacted infant abandonment laws and more than 20 other states are working on similar legislation. Most of these laws have developed out of grassroots efforts by volunteer organizations, many of which are headed by health care professionals. One such group is The Baby Moses Project
(1999) in Texas, which became the first state to enact a newborn abandonment law. The project’s mission is to publicize a practical and responsible alternative to child abandonment, in addition to educating the general public on the importance of this issue. However, what activists in Texas learned after the legislation passed was that few people were aware of the law-and legislation without publicity is ineffective. Another program that was set up in Minnesota is Safe Place for Newborns (2000).The Safe Place program serves as a resource on the national level to other states considering implementing similar programs. The founding purpose and continuing mis-
A W H O N N Lifelines
25
sion of Safe Place for Newborns is to save the lives of newborns in danger of abandonment and to help preserve the health and future of their mothers. This organization is a great resource to anyone wanting to help with passing legislation in his or her state.
intended to provide for the establishment of a task force within the Bureau of Justice Statistics to gather information about, study and report to Congress regarding the incidence of public abandonment of infant children (Abandoned Infants Assistance,
draft a policy. Volunteer to speak at nursing rnawareness of newborn abandonment as well as what can be done for these vulnerable newborns. One nurse who has played a key role in advocating for newborn aban2000). donment programs is Sandra Cesario, RNC, PhD, assistant proWRITING LEGISLATION fessor in the College of startr'ng Your OUJ?I safe P k As the laws have develNursing at Texas Minnesota's Safe Place program has a n abundance of material oped, they've gotten betWomen's University, who on its Web site to help people in other locations begin their ter and more comprehenbecame a member of the own program. Surf to www.safeplace.org for documents sive. In fact, most newHarris County Baby including a "Guide to Starting a Program" and "How to born abandonment laws Abandonment Task Force Develop Hospital Procedures." contain several key in Texas (Cesario, 2001 ). tenets: She has also been awarded a Perry Grant to undertake a Nurses continue to play key roles Anonymous: This guarantee helps three-pronged study of the phenomein advocating for newborn abandonalleviate the woman's fear that non of newborn abandonment. One ment programs. You can get someone will find out about her part of her study involves sending o u t involved by, first, finding out if your pregnancy surveys to nurses. Another example state has passed legislation regarding Free of Prosecution: The woman of nurses getting involved is in Washabandonment. If it has, request a will not be prosecuted for abandonington State, where two retired regiscopy of the law and get involved with ment if she chooses to leave her tered nurses organized a coalition to the organization that spearheaded its newborn in a designated location, support passing legislation for newpassage. usually some type of health care facility If your state has not passed legislaborn abandonment. Information regarding newborn tion regarding newborn abandonUnharmed: The newborn must not abandonment can be obtained by ment, seek out the grassroots organibe harmed for the guarantees of surfing the Internet. zation that is lobbying for the law. anonymity and immunity to apply Many of these groups would relish T i e Period: Because of the vulnerReferences the participation of a perinatal nurse, ability of a newborn's first hours, who is an advocate for mothers and laws designate a certain time period Abandoned Infants ~ ~ ~ newborns. that the woman has to bring the (2000).Brief summary: InforNext, one of the biggest issues newborn to safety mation related to discarded infants (Fact Sheet). Berkeley, after passing legislation is informing Location: Facilities are identified in CA: Author. the law that will accept newThe Baby Moses Project. (1999). borns from the woman withA Safe Place for Newborns: Saving abandoned newout fear of prosecution www.safeplacefornewbrns.org borns: Frequently asked At the federal level, there have questions about- The A secret safe place for Newborns: been two legislative actions. The www.saveabandonedbabies.org Baby Moses Project [Online]. Available: first is House Resolution 465, National Abandoned Infana Assistance www. ba bymoses.org. introduced and passed in April center: Cesario, S. (2001,Winter). New2000, which suggests that local, born abandonment: What (510) 643-8390, aiaQuclink4.berkeley.edu state and federal governments is being done? Baby Care should collect and disseminate The &zby Moses Pmject: Forum, pp. 1-2. statistics on the number of newwww. ba bymoses.org Safe Place for Newborns. (2000). born babies abandoned in pubStart the Dropram in lic places and encourage states your area [Online]. the public. Nurses are in a unique to follow Texas's lead with legislation Available: www. position to help disseminate inforaddressing this issue. sa feplacefornewborns.org. mation to schools, health care faciliSussman, D. (2000).Abandoned The second piece of legislation is ties and many volunteer organizababies: Legislators, health offiH.R. 4222,introduced on April 10, tions. Check to see if your hospital cials unite to curb recent trend. 2000, by Representative Sheila Jackhas policies in place if a woman Nurseweek.com [Online]. son-Lee (D-Texas), and may be cited were to bring in a newborn to the Available: www. as the "Baby Abandonment Prevenemergency room, and if not, help nurseweek.com. tion Act of 2000." This bill is a
A W H O N N Lifelines
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Volume 5,Issue 4