Abandoned newborn now in foster care

The newborn baby boy who was found outside a PromptCare clinic Jan. 5 is now in the custody of the Monroe County Department of Child Services and has been named "Baby Monroe" by that office.\nBaby Monroe has been placed in a licensed foster home, said child-services director Lindsey Smith.\nIt was unclear whether the mother of the baby acted within Indiana's Safe Haven law because she did not give the baby to an emergency medical provider. But Smith said he believes her actions were in accordance with the law.\n"The mother followed the intent of the law," Smith said. "She voluntarily placed the child at a facility where the child could receive immediate attention." The mother left a note with the baby saying she voluntarily surrendered the child and asked that she not be located, Smith said.\nThe Bloomington Police Department has no information about who the mother is, said Capt. Joe Qualters.\n"The case remains under investigation at this time," he said.\nSmith said he has not been informed of any leads in reference to who the mother is. According to the Safe Haven law, there are no requirements to pursue the identity or whereabouts of the mother, Smith said.\nPart of the Safe Haven law, Indiana criminal code 31-34-2.5-1, says that "any person who in good faith voluntarily leaves a child with an emergency medical services provider is not obligated to disclose the parent's name or their name."\n"My interest right now is with concerns of the health and welfare of the child," Smith said.\nThe child's health is excellent, he said. Smith said his office has received an overwhelming interest in this case through phone calls and e-mails from people all over the state. The office has received from 200 to 300 calls from people asking what they could do to provide for the child or what they could do to become foster parents, he said.\nAnyone interested in adopting Baby Monroe should contact Smith's agency at 336-6351 and ask to speak with the child-protective services supervisor.\nBaby Monroe will be named legally once he is adopted, Smith said.\nSmith said he commends the mother for the actions she took.\n"We have heard too many stories throughout the country where young mothers have placed newborn babies in dumpsters or some other place that left the child in harm's way," he said.