Family Forum / Parenting / Adoption / May 2006

MONTANA

http://www.sidneyherald.com/articles/2006/05/08/news/news02.txt

Safe Haven Law protects state's babies
By Ellen Robinson

Sidney Herald - Monday May 8, 2006

In an effort to prevent infant mortality due to parental abandonment
Montana passed the Safe Haven Law. The law provides parents who decide
they cannot take care of a newborn baby under the age of 30 days an
alternative.

In light of the recent discovery of a newborn's corpse in a Columbia
Falls backyard, Kathy Helmuth, Richland County Health Department RN,
reminds the public of Montana's Safe Haven Law intended to provide
at-risk parents with an alternative.

"I know this law has been used in Yellowstone County since taking
affect in 2001. Though no one has used this law yet in Richland County,
just in the past year we had two babies placed into adoption,"
Helmuth said.

Helmuth was working in Roosevelt County when a baby's corpse was
discovered in a dumpster, which is why she feels it is so important for
the public to be aware of Montana's Safe Haven Law.

Several years ago a baby, who was found alive in a Missoula dumpster,
was placed into adoption with a happy ending.

These events have inspired Safe Haven Law in the state. The purpose of
the law is to assure that other unwanted infants have the same
opportunity for a safe, nurturing family, according to Montana
Department of Public Health and Human Services.

Parents who decide they cannot properly care for a newborn can "give
up" the baby to a hospital, fire department, police or sheriff's
department or emergency services provider without criminal charges for
abandonment, as long as the baby does not show signs of abuse or
neglect. Babies turned into these agencies will be transported by the
agency to the hospital for care until the Child and Family Services
Division can temporarily place the babies with families.

No information is required when giving up a baby under this law,
however, any information provided will help keep the babies healthy and
safe.

All information provided will be kept confidential and will follow the
babies. Important and helpful information could include the baby's
parents names, the date and birth place, all parental health problems,
and any other information about the baby's medical, social and family
history.

The process of giving up a baby under this law includes a court hearing
to terminate parental rights before the baby can be adopted.

If only one parent is present when the baby is given up, Child and
Family Services will attempt to locate the other parent to ask if he or
she will request the court to give him or her custody.

If neither parent wants custody both will be informed of the hearing to
terminate parental rights.

If the other parent cannot be located, a public notice will run in the
local newspaper providing the time, date and location of the hearing.

Parents who give up their babies under this law only have 60 days to
change their mind. Parents who change their mind about their decision
should call Child and Family Services right away to get help from a
social worker.

Locally, several services are available for parents-to-be, including
family planning at the Richland County Health Department and Planned
Parenthood.

Family planning provides reproductive health information, pregnancy
testing and counseling. Counselors are required to make clients aware
of all the options.

"There certainly are a lot more resources than what most people
think," Helmuth said.