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October 28, 2008

Jeanne Atkinson, Communications and Legislative Services, (402) 471-8287 

13th Instance of Safe Haven Law Occurred on October 27

Lincoln - Todd Landry, director of the Division of Children and Family Services for the Department of Health and Human Services, said a 15-year-old girl from Douglas County was left at Creighton University Medical Center through LB 157, Nebraska's "safe haven" law, on the evening of October 27.

This is the 13th instance of use of LB 157 and the 21st child left at a hospital under the law since September 13. LB 157 went into effect on July 18.

Landry said the girl’s mother left her at the hospital. DHHS is in the process of gathering information and has placed the girl in residential shelter care.

More information about Nebraska's safe haven law, as well as information about local resources for families, can be found on the Department's Website at http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/children_family_services/Pages/children_family_services_safehaven.aspx.

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