|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“Don’t choose abandonment, we'll help with a better choice!”
|
Danielle Montgomery - Her Story
|
She was standing in the corner of her bedroom that she shared with her younger sister Emily, staring out the window. She was crying, nervous and confused in denial that she was pregnant. The size of her stomach forced her into reality, denial was replaced by fear and embarrassment. She didn’t know HIM very well. She did not know his last name, where he lived or anything about his family, all she knew was that his name was Eddie. Feeling alone and afraid, she also felt that she had to get rid of it (the baby)! Now, It’s been several months and she hasn’t told anyone, not even her best friend. One day she began to feel severe pain, and after a while she began to push, giving birth to a baby boy. She was confused and scared. She immediately took the baby, wrapped him in a sheet and placed him in a black plastic garbage bag and disposed of him.
|
 |
"Hi my name is Danielle and I am 14 years old. The baby boy I gave birth to died, that evening. My mother and my little sister, 10 years old, found the baby while they were searching for a document that my mom assumed she threw away by accident.
I was charged with murder, and I regret it even today.
Please speak with someone if you are pregnant, it will not be easy but at least you wouldn’t have to hide!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nevada Law
THE LAW STATES THAT IF YOU GIVE BIRTH (BIOLOGICAL PARENT) TO A BABY AND DO NOT WANT THE CHILD YOU CAN LEGALLY ABANDONED THE NEWBORN WITHIN 30 DAYS OF BIRTH TO AN EMERGENCY SERVICES PROVIDER (A FIRE DEPARTMENT, HOSPITAL, OBSTETRIC CENTER or BIRTHING CLINIC, YOU CAN EVEN DIAL 911) PROVIDED THAT THE CHILD IS NOT HARMED, AND YOU DO NOT EXPRESS AN INTENT TO RETURN FOR THE CHILD. YOU MUST IDENTIFY AND PLACE THE CHILD DIRECTLY IN THE HANDS OF AN EMPLOYEE WITHIN THAT FACILITY, OR PLACE THE CHILD IN AREA WHERE THE CHILD LIFE OR HEALTH IS NOT THREATEN AND THEN NOTIFY AN EMPLOYEE RIGHT AWAY. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELF, OR YOUR FAMILY. THE POLICE, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICE, OR THE COURTS WILL NEVER COME LOOKING FOR YOU! FOR THE COMPLETE NEVADA LAW CLICK HERE. or check our Question and Answer section for an overview.
This law is known as S.B 191 or Safe Haven Bill, this law has been past since May 31, 2001. This law differ from state to state. It’s purpose is to save the life of the newborn. It gives the birth mother a way out.
A parent is only covered under this law if they voluntarily hand over their newborn to an emergency provider unharmed. This law does not apply to a parent if your child was physically taken away by Child Protective Services.
|
The Harm
Know the Facts! Society stands at risk when individuals who fail to acknowledge a pregnant woman in severe crisis who is jeopardizing her child’s life. For example, a single female parent (whether she is pregnant or not) just lost her job and doesn’t have enough of money to buy food and pay for rent, suddenly becomes homeless. Although, there are many more reason why child abandonment occurs, these types directly affect the increasing likelihood that a baby or child will be abandoned. These problems mostly can be attributed to one or more of the following occurrences:
- The economy is bad.
- War is being fought.
- None or not enough of funding for social programs addressing issues that prevent child abandonment.
|
photo courtesy of BunInTheOven.org
|
These factors encourage a parent to abandon or give up their children.
Newborn Babies and Children who are most prone to being abandoned, are by parents who:
- Have HIV/AIDS and past the disease on to the baby.
- Are drug users and share infected needles
- Have mental and genetic health problems.
- Mother is a victim sexual assault or incest.
- Babies born physically and or mentally challenged.
- Parents who become unemployed for a long period of time and view abandonment as the only choice or the best thing for the child.
- During major holiday seasons; Christmas and Thanksgiving parents become depressed.
- An adult who has children already and can’t afford another one.
- And for any other reasons that may attribute to child abandonment.
WE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE OR HAVE ANY PREJUDICES AGAINST BABIES.
WHETHER A BABY IS ABANDONED HEALTHY OR SICK, WE WILL CARE FOR THEM ALL!
|
If you are hiding your pregnancy (keeping it a secret/haven’t told anyone.) and or scared, afraid, ashamed and don’t know what to do; DON’T panic! And please DON’T abandoned your baby! You may have questions that we haven't covered here. Please talk with us, either by phone or email. We are an anonymous network that can help you - we’ll never ask you your name!
**The data contained within this website is for informational purposes only and is not to be misconstrued or used as legal advice.**
|
|
|
|
|
|
