Over 100 babies are abandoned in Texas each year. In 1999, Texas passed the country’s first “Baby Moses” legislation written by state Rep. Geanie W. Morrison, R-Victoria. The Baby Moses law states that a parent may leave an unharmed infant, up to 60 days old, at any 24-hour emergency infant care provider with no questions asked and no penalty to the parent. This law not only protects the life of the infant but also provides a responsible alternative for the desperate parent. The Children’s Advocacy Center has taken the responsibility of educating the community of this law by providing “Safe Baby Site” signs to all designated emergency infant care providers. In Smith County, emergency rooms at both ETMC and Trinity Mother Francis, as well as the nine 24-hour fire stations are all designated “Safe Baby Sites” with trained personnel to receive hand-delivered infants. After an infant is received and given necessary medical attention, they are turned over to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and placed for adoption with a loving family. .

For more information on the Baby Moses Project, call (903) 533-1880 or email info@cacsmithcounty.org.