Abortion information you can use...

Each state has different laws concerning what constitutes a shelter home, about licensing requirements, and about sheltering minors. If you are serving as a shepherding home under the authority of an established pro-life organization, this group should have your state’s laws researched and be functioning accordingly. If you are acting autonomously, you should know the legal ramifications of being a shepherding home before you begin.

Generally, anyone can take one adult into their home without the need of state licensing. After this, each state sets its own limit on the number of non-family residents who may reside in a home before a sheltering license is required. Even if you are within legal limits, you need to consider your personal liability before proceeding.

If you become licensed as a state foster or shelter home, legal liability is dealt with through the state agency. If you do not become licensed, there are still steps you can take to protect yourself against lawsuits. The most important document you need is a liability release form. This form should be signed by the girl if she is an adult or by her parents or legal guardian if she is a minor. In both cases, it must be notarized to be valid. According to one pro-life lawyer, this will provide the best protection against lawsuits. It does not mean that you cannot be sued, but the document would deter a lawyer from initiating legal action.

If the girl is a minor, the situation is more complicated. In some states, it is not even legal to take in a minor unless you have a foster care license. In Arizona, up to five minors can be taken in at a time without a license. Each case must be a private agreement between the shepherding home and the girl’s parents or legal guardian.

Under no circumstances should you house a minor without the consent of her parents. If she has been reported to the authorities as missing, you would be harboring a runaway. Legal action could be taken against you. Occasionally, we have had cases of parents trying to force minors to have abortions. While this is illegal, it is done all too often. Instead of complying with her parents wishes, the girl runs away to a shepherding home. At this point, each family must decide what course to take considering the risks involved. Having faced this situation ourselves, we can offer some guidelines for your consideration before making the decision.

Because of her minor status, a girl cannot sign any legally binding documents for herself. These must be signed by her parents or legal guardian. If you have a minor living with you, it is difficult to secure her parents signature on all necessary documents during her stay. There is a legal method that can be used to allow the shepherding family to sign for a minor. This ability is extremely important when dealing with pregnant girls who may need emergency medical care. A document should be drawn up which simply states that the shepherding family parents have been granted the right by the girl’s parents or legal guardian to sign in their absence for needed medical care. If the girl is attending school, a similar document can be written giving the right to sign for educational needs. Both of these documents must be notarized to be valid. The shepherding family wife should carry a copy of these documents at all times for emergencies. Also, a copy of these documents should be given to the school and to the medical facility where the girl receives her pre-natal care. These documents do not mean that you are the "responsible party" for the girl. Even though you have the authority to sign in specific matters, the parents remain legally responsible for the debts and actions of their daughter.

The question of who will pay the medical costs always arises. If the girl wishes to adopt out her child, the new parents happily cover all costs in most cases. It should be noted that if a girl changes her mind about adoption at the last minute, an urgent problem could develop concerning payment of the bills. An even more difficult situation can occur in this case if the new parents have already paid some of the expenses. Rarely is a girl in a position to pay back any part of the money. In any case, it is important to know about alternate sources of money that may be available to the girl.

Each state has its own medical assistance program. Accordingly, the requirements for qualification differ widely. It has been our experience that most adult young women who are in need of shelter do qualify for assistance. The situation is not quite so simple if the girl is a minor. If you are serving as a shepherding family for an established crisis pregnancy service, this group should know the eligibility requirements in your state. If you are acting independently, you should check with your state social services to find out if a minor, not living at home, can receive medical assistance. If it is not possible for her to receive state aid, yet neither can she live at home, then she can be referred to the state social services, child welfare division. This agency should be able to place her with a licensed home and provide proper medical care.