Welfare

Nebraska’s First Baby Surrendered Under Expanded Safe Haven Law, Marking a New Chapter for Child Welfare

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LINCOLN, Neb. — In a notable application of Nebraska’s revised Safe Haven Law, a newborn was recently surrendered for the first time since the law was expanded. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the healthy condition of the infant and the successful usage of the law at a designated Safe Haven site in northeastern Nebraska. Details about the identity of the baby or the specific circumstances are withheld in adherence to HIPAA privacy regulations. The legislative update, effective from July 19, 2024, permits caregivers to leave an infant up to 90 days … Read more

Lawsuit Claims Vermont Child Welfare Agency Unlawfully Targeted Pregnant Woman to Seize Newborn

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MONTPELIER, Vt. — A recent lawsuit alleges that the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF) manipulated concerns about a pregnant woman’s mental health as a pretext to secretly investigate and ultimately gain custody of her newborn daughter immediately after her delivery in February 2022. The American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont and Pregnancy Justice, a national advocacy organization, have teamed up to file the complaint against DCF, a local counseling center, and the hospital involved. According to the legal documents, the state of Vermont has been accused of engaging in the routine surveillance of … Read more

California Enacts Sweeping Legal Reforms to Address Retail Theft, Enhance Child Welfare, and Integrate AI Transparency Standards

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Sacramento, CA — In response to a worrying rise in crime rates across California, state lawmakers have moved to implement a series of stringent laws designed to curb offenses ranging from retail theft to felonies involving artificial intelligence. The legislative changes, gathering pace in one of America’s most populous states, are devised to not only penalize but deter, rehabilitate, and align with modern technological advancements. Key to these legislative changes is a hard stance on organized retail theft, now escalating to a felony if individuals possess merchandise over $950 with intentions to resell. This provision, … Read more

Kansas Ushers in Sweeping Reforms with 101 New Laws Starting July: Child Welfare, Cybersecurity, and More

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Topeka, KS — Kansas has ushered in a significant legislative shift with the enactment of 101 new laws starting Monday, as announced by Gov. Laura Kelly and state lawmakers. These regulations, part of a broader tally of 113 statutes passed this year, span a wide array of issues from child welfare reforms spurred by tragic incidents to innovative responses to modern problems like cybersecurity threats. A notable advancement is the establishment of a permanent independent office of a child advocate, created in response to the tragic death of five-year-old Zoey Felix of Topeka. The bill, … Read more