Abandoned Babies - Baby Moses Dallas

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www.babymosesdallas.org
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The Challenge
• Over 100 babies are abandoned
each year in Texas.
• About 16 will be found dead.
• An unknown number of murdered
babies are never found.
www.babymosesdallas.org
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The Solution
• A Texas law provides a responsible alternative
to mothers who might otherwise abandon, harm
or murder a newborn child.
• It states that a parent may leave an unharmed
infant, up to 60 days old, at any designated
hospital or fire station with “no questions asked.”
• This law is nicknamed the "The Baby Moses
Law."
www.babymosesdallas.org
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Community Responsibility
• Under Texas law all Texas emergency medical
services providers (including hospitals and most
fire stations) are “designated emergency infant
care providers” for these abandoned babies. In
addition, “Each designated emergency infant
care provider shall post in a conspicuous
location a notice stating that the provider is a
designated emergency infant care provider
location and will accept possession of a child.”
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Standardized Texas Sign
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Law requires that signs be placed
in a conspicuous location
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Baby Moses Dallas
• Since the legislature provided no funds to
publicize this law, privately funded nonprofit groups in every metropolitan area in
Texas have instituted public awareness
campaigns. In Dallas County this group is
called Baby Moses Dallas.
www.babymosesdallas.org
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Dallas Organization
• The Baby Moses Dallas organization was
established as an all-volunteer 501(c)(3)
organization to provide free signage and
educational materials to fire stations and
hospitals in Dallas County and to educate
the public about the law. It is funded by
individual donations.
www.babymosesdallas.org
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Dallas Primary Goals
• To educate the public about the Baby
Moses/Safe Haven law so that mothers can
make a responsible decision that will be “a
choice for you and a chance for your baby.”
• To provide signage at no cost to all statedesignated Safe Haven sites in Dallas County.
(We’ve also provided signs to surrounding
counties who’ve requested them.)
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Additional Goals
• Provide posters for Safe Baby Sites to inform personnel
there how to handle an abandoned baby.
• Print and distribute posters and brochures (English and
Spanish) aimed at young women for distribution to
schools, libraries, recreation centers, clinics and other
public places.
• We have created and are distributing Public Service
Announcements (PSAs) to television stations (in English
and Spanish and in DVD and Beta formats). A radio
PSA is in the works.
• Publicize the Baby Moses Law in other forums, such as
at community events, schools, churches, etc.
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Poster for Safe Haven Sites
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When a Baby is Delivered to the Site
• Receive an unharmed infant that
appears to be under 60 days old.
• Medically stabilize the infant if needed.
Transport to a hospital if needed.
• Offer the parent medical treatment and
voluntary medical disclosure form.
• Contact Child Protective Services as
quickly as possible or 9-1-1.
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The voluntary medical disclosure form can be anonymously
returned to the city by mail (include a stamped, addressed envelope).
Also available in Spanish.
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How you can help…
Put brochures in public areas…
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Worksheets are available that
teach the Baby Moses law.
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Posters inform the public about the
Baby Moses law.
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With your help, we can spread the news.
(Parkland presentation)
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Please help save this baby.
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Contact Information
Alan Elliott, Executive Director
alan@babymosesdallas.org
214-729-1574
Ed Spencer, Media Contact
edspencer@tx.rr.com
214-533-2305
Patsy Summey, Project Coordinator
patsy@babymosesdallas.org
972-291-6433
Vivian Skinner, Development Director
vivian@babymosesdallas.org
972-296-1642 or 972-333-0717
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