2009 Stand Up Award Recipient

Koann Eicher

Class of 2009
Letters, Arts, and Sciences
Penn State Shenango
Nominated by Juley Alford

Do you know about the Pennsylvania Safe Haven Law?  Odds are, you've never heard of it.  Yet this law offers an important option to parents who are unable to care for their newborn infants.  This law ensures that such parents can, without fear of prosecution, give their newborn child to any hospital staff member for safe haven.  The infant will receive needed medical care and the county's child and youth agency will help to find the child a suitable and loving home.  Supporters of the Safe Haven Law believe the law helps to ensure the welfare of these infants by providing an option for parents who feel they have no other choice.