Baby Moses Project
Safe Haven Designation
The Board of Directors of the Children's Advocacy Center accepted the challenge to coordinate the Safe Baby Site project for Johnson County. The Baby Moses Law enacted in 1999 provides a responsible alternative to parents who might otherwise abandon, neglect or harm a newborn child. It states that a parent may leave an unharmed infant, up to sixty days old, at any hospital, fire station or designated Emergency Medical Provider, with no questions asked and no penalty to the parent. Texas State Law 262.301 and 262.302
The project ensures that the personnel of each designated Safe Baby Site know the law and are trained on how to react in situations where newborns may be left in their care.
The Baby Moses Law passed in 1999 but no funding was attached to provide media publicity or education for the public. Therefore, there have still been many Texas children abandoned and left to die in trash dumpsters and dark alleys. It is our hope that through a massive training effort, public awareness media pieces and speaking presentations, we can prevent any other babies in Johnson County from facing this fate. History has shown us that 25% of all abandoned babies do not survive.
Our Board has provided training for all sites and has just completed production of a training video that will be distributed to all fire stations, mobile baby sites and hospitals.
Texas Methodist Foundation for providing funding for this project;
Huguley Hospital for baby bags and supplies at all sites;
First Baptist Church of Grandview Sew & Sew Group for making receiving blankets for each bag;
Field Street Baptist Church's Young at Heart Group for diapers, wipes, socks, pacifiers and onesies.
