More safe havens for mothers surrendering newborns

Published 3:15 pm Friday, July 21, 2017

ATLANTA – Distressed mothers who wish to surrender their newborn can now do so at more locations in Georgia, and they can also now do it anonymously.

Under a new law, which took effect this month, women can leave their baby with someone at fire and police stations, as well as sheriff’s offices. Previously, that list was limited to medical facilities, such as hospitals.

All states have what are called Safe Haven laws, which are meant to steer parents away from unsafely – and illegally – abandoning their children, such as leaving a newborn in a trashcan.

It’s unclear how many women in Georgia have used the law. Only 27 babies have been officially documented since 2008, according to the Division of Family and Children Services, but an agency spokeswoman said this is most certainly a conservative number.

The rules vary from state to state, but Georgia now joins at least half the country by expanding its programs beyond healthcare facilities. The children ultimately end up in state custody.

“If we care about newborns, then we need to expand it to more places, because what’s happening is mothers are just dropping them off at street corners,” said Rep. David Clark, R-Buford, who sponsored the bill.

“Now, it’s truly putting the baby first, which we should be doing. It’s about saving the baby,” he said.

Clark said he was stunned to learn that a woman who is trying to do the right thing could be prosecuted for not providing her name and other personal information when legally surrendering her newborn.

He said that requirement was a likely deterrent for women trapped in difficult situations, such as sex trafficking or an abusive relationship.

Under his measure, women will also now have more time to decide whether to give up her child under the state’s Safe Haven law. Before only seven-day-old newborns could be legally surrendered; now, the baby can be up to 30 days old.

Clark’s bill sailed through both chambers this legislative session with no debate. It went into effect earlier month.

Sarah Koeppen, executive director of Marietta-based The Hope Box, said there was concern among some state lawmakers that broadening the law would come off as the state condoning abandonment.

“We don’t know why a girl is scared, and that’s part of our goal, to not point out the ‘why,’” Koeppen said.

“We need to stop looking at it as, ‘She did this, and she got herself in this situation,’” Koeppen added. “We need to face the fact that life is hard. Sometimes desperate people do desperate things.”

Her nonprofit, which pushed for the legislation, plans to open a “hope box” at an Atlanta-area medical facility this fall. The constantly monitored box would be equipped to receive newborns anonymously. Those babies will then go to a hospital.

Koeppen said the box and Safe Haven laws are meant to serve as last resorts for mothers unable to care for their newborn who may feel as though they are left with few options. 

Jill Nolin covers the Georgia Statehouse for CNHI’s newspapers and websites. Reach her at jnolin@cnhi.com.