Sunday, March 15, 2009

Giving Up Parental Rights

An out-of-work widower who left 9 of his 10 children at a Nebraska hospital under the state's old safe-haven law has given up his parental rights.

Gary Staton dropped off the children last September, saying he was overwhelmed by his family responsibilities.

Court records show he has relinquished his parental rights. The step paves the way for the children to be adopted or be placed in long-term guardianship.

Staton left his children, ranging in age from a toddler to 17, at Creighton University Medical Center. His tenth child, the family's oldest, was too old to be taken in by state authorities.

Nebraska's old safe-haven law had no age limit. It was amended last November to put an age limit of 30 days.

Source:
Neb. man gives up rights to 9 kids

More information:
Safe Haven Dad Gives Up Parental Rights

Father of nine gives up parental rights

More about the Safe-Haven Law:
Finding a Fix for Nebraska's Safe Haven Law

'Safe Haven' bill advances; compromise work ahead

Neb. senators want $30 million for safe-haven bill

Children in the Mental Health Void

4 comments:

  1. Hats off to this man. I am sure it was a hard, hard, and heartbreaking decision, but he loved his kids enough to know he wasn't doing right by them and they needed better.

    I am sorry they're in the system, but they are alive and there's hope for them.

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  2. Yes, it's true that he did the right thing. Poor kids, tho.

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  3. Sad situation but this father's first step to admit, he was overwhelmed is the best thing a parent can do for their children.

    His decision to do the right thing by leaving them where they will be found safe and secure showed he had: courage.

    I hope one day, he can forgive himself and his kids can forgive him for taking drastic measures to ensure the safety of his children.

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  4. He may never be able to forgive himself for not being superman. But, hopefully his heart forgives himself for putting his kids first.

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