OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Child welfare officials in Nebraska say 11 children were abandoned at hospitals in the state last night, under the state's unique safe haven law.

While many state have laws that allow people to give up infants without fear of prosecution, Nebraska's allows children as old as 19 to be abandoned at any state-licensed hospital.

Last night, one father left his nine children at the Creighton University Medical Center's emergency room. The five boys and four girls ranged in age from 1 to 17. Two unrelated boys ages 11 and 15 were dropped off at another hospital.

Nebraska's director of Children and Family Services says there have been other similar cases -- and in practically every one, the reason has been parents feeling overwhelmed. Todd Landry says "it was the parents not wanting to continue the journey with their kids."

Five of the nine siblings who were abandoned last night have been placed in a foster home, while the rest are in an emergency shelter. Landry says the department is working on an arrangement to keep them together.