More babies have been surrendered in SC this year than ever before, officials say. What we know
More babies have been surrendered to authorities in 2022 than in all the years since Daniel’s Law was passed in 2001.
In the first 10 months of 2022, seven babies have been surrendered at hospitals across South Carolina. Three of the babies were underweight — twin boys born in Anderson and a boy born in Greenville.
The most in one year previously was six in 2016 and 2019.
Daniel’s Law, the Safe Haven for Abandoned Babies Act, was named for an infant who survived being buried in a landfill in Allendale County. Nurses named him Daniel.
The Department of Social Services takes custody of surrendered babies, who are placed in foster homes until they are adopted. Children younger than 60 days can be surrendered in certain places such as hospitals or fire departments and no action is taken against the parents as long as the child is not injured.
Danielle Jones, spokesperson for DSS, said all but the three babies surrendered in September have been adopted.
Since the law was passed, 56 children have been surrendered.
She said she could not speculate on why more children were surrendered.
Jones said there is no shortage of foster care providers for newborns. In fact, children up to 6 years old are readily placed.
“The agency’s greatest need for foster placements remains those foster parents willing to serve older youth and teenagers, sibling groups, and children with complex medical needs,” she said.
The babies surrendered this year are:
Twins born July 11 were surrendered on Sept. 8 at AnMed Health Medical Center in Anderson. They are African-American/Caucasian boys. One weighed 2 pounds, 10.6 ounces and was 15.75 inches in length and the other weighed 2 pounds, 2.2 ounces and was 13.98 inches in length. They have been placed in a foster home, with a permanency planning hearing scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Oct. 20, 2022 at the Anderson County Family Court.
A white boy born Sept. 3, who weighed 1 pound, 12.5 ounces. DSS reported he is receiving additional medical care and a permanency planning hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.mm. Oct. 11 at the Greenville County Family Court.
A white girl born on July 7, weighing 7 pounds, 9.7 ounces and was 20 inches long surrendered at Greer Memorial Hospital in Spartanburg County. A permanency planning hearing was held on Aug. 29.
A Black boy born on June 1, was surrendered to Summerville Medical Center. He weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. Dorchester County DSS took custody of the child, and he has been placed in a licensed foster home.
A white boy, born on April 8, 2022, was surrendered at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood County. He weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces, and was 19 inches long. The permanency planning hearing was held May 23.
A white girl, born Jan. 21, was surrendered to Lexington Medical Center. She weighed 8 pounds, 7.8 ounces and was 20 inches long. The permanency planning hearing was held on March 9.
A 2001 story in The State reported that Daniel’s mother did not tell her parents she was pregnant, never sought prenatal care and gave birth in the bathroom of her Allendale County home. She buried him in the old city dump nearby.
The child was found after she sought care in a local hospital.
“He was covered with a lime substance and fire ants and he was screaming his head off. Rescue workers could make out ant bites on his chest, face and the web between his fingers. But the rest of his body was caked with the lime,” the story said.
One rescue worker was quoted as saying, “That baby was just not meant to die. It’s an unbelievable story that this child lived through all that. God has a plan for his life.”
