Puzzling

There are so many programs out there designed to help people - but how do you make sure the right people know about them?

I'm saddened and just puzzled by the recently 'abandoned' baby in New York.

NEW YORK (AP) — A cabdriver accused of making up a story about a baby being abandoned in his taxi faces charges in the abandonment of the girl that could earn him a year in jail, officials said Sunday.

The 44-year-old driver, Klever Sailema, was initially praised as a Good Samaritan after he told police an unknown man left the 6-month-old child in his livery cab.

I had to search for a while, because I couldn't remember the terms - but at least I knew the concept existed - but New York is a "Safe Haven" state.

The new law says that you can leave your baby with any appropriate person (click to read law).  In New York, this is generally understood as going to a hospital, a police station, or a fire station.  Look for someone wearing scrubs, or a uniform. They will probably be wearing a name tag, either clipped to a pocket, or hanging from their neck. Tell the hospital person that you want to leave your baby with Safe  Haven.

So we have someone going to jail... for no reason, really. There were other alternatives. Of course, this whole drama brings to light the 14-year-old mother and the apparently 27-year-old father, so there's your silver lining - something can be done about that untenable situation.

I know I'm far from the first person to notice something like this and I haven't the slightest clue how to stop things like this from happening again.