Latest news with #SafeHavenLaw
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Newton nonprofit holds fundraiser to install safe haven baby box
NEWTON, Iowa — A nonprofit in Newton is halfway to its fundraising goal for a safe haven baby box to be installed at the community's hospital. The plan was first presented in 2024 when Jasper County Attorney General Scott Nicholson brought the idea to the Open Arms Foundation of Jasper County, a nonprofit that provides support for children facing crisis or are in the foster care system. Open Arms was founded last year and provides backpacks with necessary supplies and comfort items to children who were removed from their biological families. So far, the nonprofit has helped 200 children and families, according to founder and director Nick Pietrack. At the beginning of 2025, Open Arms started fundraising for a baby box in Newton. Their goal is $30,000. Pietrack says the box is estimated to cost $20,000, plus $500 in annual fees for maintenance, training, certification, and other expenses. His goal is to raise enough that the cost is covered for many years. Sen. Joni Ernst responds to backlash from her sarcastic comments on Medicaid Around $15,000 has been raised so far, but the organization plans on fundraising for the rest of the year. Pietrack said the baby box will be installed in Newton even if the fundraising goal isn't met, but he commends the community's ability to come together in support of this cause. 'I've seen a tremendous ability in Jasper County for us to gather our community for positive things. So, it's very heartwarming and wonderful to see the support and we're excited about it,' he said. The baby box will be located at the MercyOne Newton Medical Center. Pietrack said the current plan is to have the box located outside the emergency room and near the ambulance bays, however the hospital will be remodeling soon, so the exact location in the hospital is subject to change. 'We want to be proactive, not reactive. So, the reason for some of the baby boxes being installed in other communities are reactive towards horrible incidences that have happened, tragic deaths of infant children,' he said. Newton is now the fourth Iowa community to start the process of installing a baby box. The Iowa Safe Haven Act went into effect in 2002, and it provides parents in crisis an option to safely surrender an infant up to 90-days-old. The law was expanded in 2023, allowing communities to implement their own safe haven baby boxes. Since then, baby boxes were installed at the Fort Dodge Fire Department and the MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines. The Norwalk Fire Department announced last year that they are in the process of installing a baby box as a result of a baby's death in 2023. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced on Monday that a baby girl was recently surrendered safely through the Safe Haven Law. She is the third infant to be surrendered this year and the 77th since the law was put into effect, according to the department's press release. Iowa News: Iowa veteran passes halfway point on Appalachian Trail Newton nonprofit holds fundraiser to install safe haven baby box Storms move in, along with cooler air Miguel Angel Jimenez wins playoff in Iowa for 3rd PGA Tour Champions victory of the year Forecast: Smoke exits, storms move in Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas' Baby Moses Law legislates a safe surrender
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)- On June 19th, 1999 then Governor George W. Bush signed the Safe Haven Law, also known as the Baby Moses Law, making Texas the first in the nation to enact legislation that protects parents from some legal ramifications in the event they feel they cannot properly care for their infant child that is 60 days old or younger, and must surrender them to the proper authorities. That law was aimed at lowering the amount of infants that were illegally abandoned or in extreme cases, left to die. Abilene Attorney at Law Brandi Young of Keith & Lorfing Law Firm says the firm has had occasions of representing those that find themselves in legal trouble for infant surrender situations, explaining what exactly some of those parents or guardians might be going through. 'What we see a lot of times, I think on the news, are very vulnerable women giving birth to children in not hospital settings, not knowing what to do. You know, unfortunately, we see babies that are left in unsafe conditions, maybe don't get the medical care that they need or care that they need. Our legislators saw that, you know, we are not protecting our most vulnerable, our newborn children,' Young said. Authored and introduced by former Texas State Representative Geanie Morrison, the Baby Moses Law removed some of that fear of surrender for parents that felt they could not provide for their infant child. In 2023, the law was revised to allow for that surrender to a dedicated emergency response infant care provider to be anonymous as well. 'Fear of judgement, fear of prosecution, fear of going to jail whatever the fears may be were stopping some of those parents, some of those mothers from taking the child to a hospital, taking the child to a fire station, taking the child to EMS…admitting and accepting that I can't care for this newborn, but I'm going to do the best for him or her is really the best gift that any parent or guardian could give their child,' said Young. The implementation of Safe Haven Baby boxes take that mission a step further, by allowing the parent or guardian to surrender their infant in a temperature controlled environment that will notify the proper care professional immediately so that the child can be retrieved without the guardian having to come face to face with that care professional, further removing fear of judgment that might keep the guardian from surrendering their child safely. 'Particularly here in the Big Country, we want to support that and we want to give absolutely every chance to those newborn that they can have to know that we're here, not to judge, not to second guess, candidly, not even really try to figure out why. But we want you to know you've got options,' Young expressed. Local pro-life nonprofit raises $20k to install safe haven box in Abilene for anonymous infant surrender Today all 50 states including the Puerto Rico and the District of Colombia have Safe Haven laws on the books. The first Baby Box in Texas was installed in Abilene just one year ago at Abilene Fire Station 7, 431 N Pioneer Drive. Subsequently 5 other baby boxes have been installed around the state with two in the Lubbock Area. Corsicana, Palestine, and Conroe each having one. Abilene becomes 1st in Texas to host anonymous program for parents to surrender infants: Safe Haven Baby Box Since 2017 nearly 60 infants in the US have been surrendered by baby box. In addition, the National Safe Haven Crisis line has helped with more that 150 In-person surrenders. That hotline can be reached by dialing 1-866-992-2291 (BABY1). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB -
Miami Herald
02-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Hotel worker discovers newborn baby boy dead in garbage can, Arizona cops say
A hotel worker made a shocking discovery when they spotted a newborn baby's body in a trash can in Arizona, police said. Authorities responded at 10:42 a.m. May 1 to a Best Western, the Yuma Police Department said in a Facebook post. The baby boy had been placed in a garbage can outside of the hotel where a worker found him dead, police said. Police said he was put into the trash between 10 p.m. April 30 and 10 a.m. May 1. No suspects have been identified, and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information that leads to an arrest can get up to a $1,000 cash reward. Police can be contacted at 928-373-4700. To remain anonymous, call 928-782-7463. Parents can safely leave their unharmed babies under 30 days old at multiple locations without fear of being prosecuted, thanks to the Safe Haven Law in Arizona, police said. Safe Haven locations include hospitals, ambulances, designated adoption agencies, on-duty fire stations and designated churches. 'You must hand your baby to a person at the above locations or may place the baby in the Safe Haven drawer at designated hospitals. Tell them this is a safe haven baby and you may leave,' police said. Yuma is in southwestern Arizona, near the Mexico border.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Deceased baby boy found inside garbage can at a Yuma hotel
The Brief A deceased baby boy was found in a garbage can at a Best Western hotel in Yuma on May 1. Police are using the tragedy to remind the public about Arizona's Safe Haven Law that allows a parent to drop their baby off at designated locations, like hospitals, churches and fire stations. YUMA, Ariz. - An investigation is underway in southwest Arizona after a deceased baby boy was found inside a hotel garbage can on May 1. What we know Yuma Police officers responded to a Best Western hotel at around 10 a.m. near Castle Dome Avenue and Yuma Palms Parkway after an employee reported the tragic discovery. Police believe the baby was placed in the garbage can sometime between 10 p.m. on April 30 and 10 a.m. on May 1. "There are no suspects at this time and this is an ongoing investigation," the Yuma Police Department said. What you can do Anyone with information is asked to call the Yuma Police Department at 928-373-4700 or 928-782-7463. You can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Safe Haven Law "The Yuma Police Department wants to inform our community of the Safe Haven Law," the department said. "Arizona has the Safe Haven Law that identifies places where mothers can safely and anonymously give up their babies without fear of prosecution. We have a Safe Haven crisis response team available to assist you with questions, options, and resources, 24/7. Call 1-866-707-2229." It says if your baby is unharmed, under 30 days old and don't plan on reclaiming your baby, you can bring your baby to any hospital, any ambulance, any designated adoption agency, on-duty fire stations or any designated church. "You must hand your baby to a person at the above locations or may place the baby in the Safe Haven drawer at designated hospitals. Tell them this is a Safe Haven baby and you may leave. Your baby will be cared for and a good home will be found for the baby," police said. Click here to learn more about the Safe Haven program.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Newborn baby found dead in Best Western hotel garbage can in Yuma
The Yuma Police Department was investigating the death of a newborn who was found in a garbage can at a hotel. Police said a Best Western employee found the baby boy in an outside garbage can around 10:40 a.m. Police believed the body was placed in the trash can between 10 p.m. April 30 and 10 a.m. May 1. There were no suspects as of May 1. The investigation was ongoing. Anyone with information can call the Yuma Police Department at 928-373-4700 or 78-Crime at 928-782-7463 to remain anonymous. Police offered a $1,000 reward for information that led to an arrest. The Best Western was located near the intersection of Interstate 8 and U.S. 95 in Yuma. Arizona has a Safe Haven Law that identifies places where mothers can safely and anonymously give up their babies without fear of prosecution, Yuma police said. If a baby is unharmed and under 30 days old, it can be dropped off at a Safe Haven location. These include: Any ambulance Any designated adoption agency Any designated church Any hospital On-duty fire stations Mothers must hand the baby to a person at the above locations or may place the baby in the Safe Haven drawer at designated hospitals, police said. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Yuma police investigate death of baby boy found in hotel garbage can
