| What Happens to Abandoned Children? | | | | hospital or police station. But how many savvy or |
| Every state in the US now has laws that make it | | | | knowledgeable teens would end up in this |
| possible for someone to abandon their children in a | | | | predicament? |
| public service location, such as a hospital or police | | | | The other common form of infant abandonment is |
| station. In most cases, these laws require that the | | | | done by men who are old enough to know better. |
| baby be one week old or less (though most of us | | | | Some of these men are pimps who have found that |
| are aware of the now infamous case of the | | | | the child impinges on profits. Some are the mother's |
| Nebraska law which temporarily allowed parents to | | | | boyfriend or the baby-daddy, who don't want the |
| abandon children up to age 18). The intention is, of | | | | responsibility of the child, but are determined to |
| course, to save the lives of babies who might | | | | remain in the mother's life. In many cases, these |
| otherwise be left to die. We've all heard the stories | | | | babies are older than a few days; they can be older |
| of tiny corpses being found in dumpsters; these laws | | | | infants, toddlers, or even preschoolers. |
| are an attempt to provide parents with another | | | | Where do the babies go? |
| choice. | | | | Assuming that the babies live, they immediately go |
| Who are the parents? | | | | into foster care. There are foster parents who are |
| The majority of infant abandonment comes in two | | | | especially equipped to receive infants at any hour of |
| forms. | | | | the day or night, even if it's just on a temporary or |
| One is a young teenage girl, who has perhaps hidden | | | | emergency basis until a more permanent foster |
| her pregnancy from all around her. Perhaps she has | | | | home can be found. While the baby is in foster care, |
| refused to acknowledge it even to herself and is | | | | the authorities, which include the police and DFS social |
| taken by surprise when she gives birth, alone and | | | | workers, attempt to find the birth parents of the |
| with no medical or emotional support. Perhaps she | | | | child. If they can't be found, the state takes |
| has a boyfriend, and if so, he is equally as terrified as | | | | permanent custody and the child is declared available |
| she is. If they are very savvy and knowledgeable | | | | for adoption. |
| teens, they know enough to take the child to a | | | | |