Omaha dumping ground for unwanted teens?

[bluemtnrunner]

What have we come to in this country when some people no longer value our children? I know that times are hard and teens can be difficult but to drive to another state in hopes of abandoning your children without any criminal charges. How these poor kids must feel. :angry:


http://apnews.myway.com//article/20081014/D93PV46G8.html

[FONT=Verdana,Sans-serif]2nd out-of-state teen dropped at Omaha hospital[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Sans-serif] [FONT=Verdana,Sans-Serif]Email this Story[/FONT]

Oct 13, 9:09 PM (ET)

By JEAN ORTIZ and JOSH FUNK[/FONT]


OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - A Michigan mother drove roughly 12 hours to Omaha, so she could abandon her 13-year-old son at a hospital under the state's unique safe-haven law, Nebraska officials said Monday.
The boy from the Detroit area is the second teenager from outside Nebraska and 18th child overall abandoned in the state since the law took effect in July.
"I certainly recognize and can commiserate and empathize with families across our state and across the country who are obviously struggling with parenting issues, but this is not the appropriate way of dealing with them, whether you're in Nebraska or whether you're in another state," said Todd Landry, who heads the state's Department of Health and Human Services' division of children and family services. There was no sign the boy was in immediate danger before he was abandoned early Monday, but an investigation into the boy's situation was still continuing, Landry said.

 

[AAbsolute]

What have we come to in this country when some people no longer value our children? I know that times are hard and teens can be difficult but to drive to another state in hopes of abandoning your children without any criminal charges. How these poor kids must feel. :angry:


http://apnews.myway.com//article/20081014/D93PV46G8.html

[FONT=Verdana,Sans-serif]2nd out-of-state teen dropped at Omaha hospital[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Sans-serif] [FONT=Verdana,Sans-Serif]Email this Story[/FONT]

Oct 13, 9:09 PM (ET)

By JEAN ORTIZ and JOSH FUNK[/FONT]


OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - A Michigan mother drove roughly 12 hours to Omaha, so she could abandon her 13-year-old son at a hospital under the state's unique safe-haven law, Nebraska officials said Monday.
The boy from the Detroit area is the second teenager from outside Nebraska and 18th child overall abandoned in the state since the law took effect in July.
"I certainly recognize and can commiserate and empathize with families across our state and across the country who are obviously struggling with parenting issues, but this is not the appropriate way of dealing with them, whether you're in Nebraska or whether you're in another state," said Todd Landry, who heads the state's Department of Health and Human Services' division of children and family services. There was no sign the boy was in immediate danger before he was abandoned early Monday, but an investigation into the boy's situation was still continuing, Landry said.

Every week a parent kiils their own child. There is nothing mentally healthy about it. I'm glad the kid was dropped off there instead of somewhere else.

 

[scooterbug44]

Why do they have to drive to Nebraska?

I know abandoning a minor is illegal, but can't they contact their local children's protective services and give them their kid and relinquish their parental rights?

How much would that 12-25 hour road trip to abandon your kid suck?

 

[bluemtnrunner]

I don't understand how they are "resourceful" enough to figure out that they can go to Omaha to avoid prosecution but can't use that same energy to find real help for their kids (and themselves).

 

[AAbsolute]

I don't think there is anything healthy about the whole story. It has to be the sadest thing I've heard in a long time. I speant 3 days in a home for children whose parents were unavailable when I was very young. Children living in group foster homes need our prayers, attention and much more. Some become socially malformed by no fault or act of their own. Today, in real time, there are kids who need positive reinforcement and attention.

In contrast, I think I read that that Florida mom of Caylee was arrested on 1st degree murder.