The Baby Moses Law was created to addres the serious problem of newborn abondonment. This year alone in Texas an average of two newborns per month were found abandoned in a life-threatening environment. Texas law makes it legal for a parent to turn over newborns to Safe Baby Sites without penalty to the parent. NO PENALTY!Newborns must be delivered to a designated Safe Baby Site, UNHARMED, and 60 days-old or younger. In the state of Texas, Fire stations, Hospitals, and Emergency Medical Services are designated Safe Baby Sites. All of these sites are clearly labeled with the Safe Baby Site signs. In Tarrant County, all Med Star ambulances are also designated Safe Baby Sites.
The organization I work for, Alliance For Children, serves as the coordinating agency for Tarrant County and I am the contact person for this project. It is my job to coordinate with all the Safe Baby Sites to educate all the staff at each location about the project. I also provide each site with a baby bag which includes items for a baby if one is dropped off at a site. A baby bag includes a onesie, baby blanket, diapers, wipes, bottle, and formula all for a child 60 days old or younger.
I also serve as the contact person for Alliance For Children if a child is ever dropped off at a Safe Baby Site. If this happens the fire fighters with provide the baby with the appropriate care and immediately call Child Protective Services (1-800-252-5400) and take the baby to a hospital. Child Protective Services will meet the fire fighters and myself at the hospital to being taking care of the infant. Alliance For Children keeps track of the children who have been turned over to a Safe Baby Site for records.
When the child is dropped off the parents/caregivers are given the chance to fill out some medical history information on the mother and father to later give to the child. On the paperwork there is a spot for the birthday information to be filled out as well, because sometimes there will be not way of knowing how old the child is if that information is not given. Once the child is checked out at the hospital they will receive an evaluation and placement in a permanent loving home through the Department of Family and Protective Services where the child's future is unlimited.
This program is a last resort for desperate parents and was designed to decrease the number of infants who are abandoned in dumpsters and trash cans. If you would like to know more information concerning the Baby Moses Project or how you can help protect children in Tarrant County, please contact Alliance For Children.
