There is a LOT of misinformation and outright wrong information about minors on this thread being presented as "fact". Posting the same wrong thing over and over doesn't make it "true", and bullying other posters doesn't make wrong information any more "true" either.
Let's just start with one simple issue-- minors birthing children.
Nearly
every state that I'm aware of has very detailed statutes, as well as policies within their Department of Human Services division that deal with teen pregnancies, and minors who give birth. Teen pregnancies and births are tracked very closely in all states-- not just that they "did" give birth, but lots of separate categories of services offered, and many subcategories. Minors are not automatically emancipated at the birth of a child, although they may be emancipated for medical decision making for the infant.
In most states, minors giving birth under age 17
ARE reported by the hospital
by law, to the local county social services division for referral and supervision. Here are a few snippets from statutes in my state.
Minor Mother: A person who is 17 years of age or younger and is pregnant, or who has given birth to a child. The criteria include a minor who is married and who is otherwise considered emancipated. Adapted from Part 9555.9200
Adult-supervised Supportive Living Arrangement: A private family setting which assumes responsibility for care and control of the minor parent and minor child, or other living arrangement, not including a public institution, licensed by the commissioner of human services which ensures that the minor parent receives adult supervision and supportive services, such as counseling, guidance, independent living skills training, or supervision.
Services to Mothers and Pregnant Women XIII-3120
The local social services agency must offer appropriate services to the following groups of mothers and pregnant women:
1. Minors who are pregnant or already have a child;
2. Mothers who did not have prenatal care;
3. Mothers who request assistance in establishing paternity for their children;
4. Women who request assistance in deciding whether they want to parent their child; or
5. Mothers who are referred to the local agency because they have physical, mental, or emotional problems which that the care they are able to provide for their children. Adapted from Part 9555.9200
Responsibilities to Minors Who are Pregnant or Already Have A Child XIII-3130
Referral to Local Social Services Agency XIII-3131
Hospitals must report all births to minors to the local social services agency in the county in which the minor mother resides and must notify the minor that the birth has been reported. Adapted from Minn. Stat. 257.33, subd. 2
Births are to be reported within three working days after the birth on the 72-Hour Report of Birth to a Minor form (DHS-2518) and sent to the local social services agency in the county where the mother has residence. (See SSM XIII-3181) Adapted from Minn. Stat. 257.33, subd. 2
The local agencys income maintenance unit must refer an MFIP parent under 18 to social services, or if the minor parent is 18 or 19, to a job counselor or at county option, to the social services agency for an educational progress assessment and an employment plan (school plan) when the minor parent is not exempt from meeting the school attendance requirement. The local agencys income maintenance unit will send the Notice of Requirement To Attend School form (DHS-2961) to the minor parent with a copy to the social services unit when the school attendance requirement must be met. (See SSM XIII-3183) Adapted from Minn. Stat. 256J.
Responsibility of Local Social Services Agency for All Minor Mothers XIII-3132
The local social services agency must contact each minor mother reported to the local agency by a hospital or referred by the income maintenance unit of the agency. The social services unit must first determine if the minor parent has a plan for herself and her child. If a plan is already in lace at the time of the report or referral, the plan must be reviewed by the minor mother and the social services unit to update and ensure that all of the requirements are being met. The social services unit must provide the services needed to support the minor mothers school attendance. If the minor mother is living independently, the social services unit must also assist the minor mother with a social service plan. If the minor mother does not have a plan, the social services unit should work with her to develop a plan and should provide case management services as needed to assure that resources and services are available to meet the plans requirements.
The plan must consider:
1. the age of the minor parent;
2. the degree of involvement of the minor's parents or other adults who provide active, ongoing guidance, support, and supervision;
3. the degree of involvement of the father of the child, including steps being taken to establish paternity, if appropriate;
4. whether the minor intends to parent her child or place the child for adoption;
5. completion of high school or GED;
6. current economic support for the minor parent and child and plans for economic self-sufficiency;
7. parenting skills of the minor parent;
8. living arrangement of the minor parent and child;
9. child care and transportation needed for education, training, or employment;
10. ongoing health care; and
11. other services as needed to address personal or family problems or to facilitate the personal growth and development and economic self-sufficiency of the minor parent and child.
If a minor mother refuses to plan for the above, or fails without good cause to follow through on an agreed upon plan, the local agency may file a petition in Juvenile Court alleging that the minor parent and/or child of minor parent is dependent and in need of protection or services.
http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/groups/county_access/documents/pub/dhs_id_018747.pdf
There actually IS a huge hole in the Iowa statutes that I would anticipate will be addressed soon by the Iowa legislature. If a minor gives birth in a hospital, there is social services involvement. If a minor disrupts an adoption plan (NOT a "failed adoption"-- that is a completely different term for a different situation), there is no statute that mandates social services involvement. (That I can find.)
One thing that should be considered by posters who have shared that they themselves were young teen parents is that laws regarding minor parents have changed significantly in the past 20 years, BECAUSE so many problems have been encountered with ill supported and unprepared young teen mothers.
Modern hospitals no longer just wrap the baby in a blanket, hand it to a young teen mother, and say "good luck" as the teen walks out the door. There are always going to be stories of good outcomes with young teens, but the reality of the situation is that for every good outcome, there are many dozens of horrible outcomes. This is why legislatures have mandated social services involvement.
We don't know if social services was involved with MA once she took custody of Gabriel. But from the evidence, it does not appear they were.
We have NO idea what the relationship between MA and DWS was. We cannot assume it was all roses and sunshine. We don't know what his thoughts were about fathering this baby, or to what degree he was involved and in agreement with the plan for the baby during and after the birth. This was not a random stranger abuse/ killing of a baby-- it was filicide. That may not matter at all to some posters, but the
full context of a death or murder is very important to authorities and juries, IMO.
