Leslie Byers understands the frustrations many parents feel.

"They're in crisis. These aren't kids who have temper tantrums," Byers said. "These are kids who've attempted suicide. Who become a danger to themselves and others."

Byers understands because her daughter has severe mental and behavioral health disorders.

"I'm not saying I don't want to parent," Byers said. "I'm saying help me parent her. Stop shaming and blaming and start listening."

And listening is exactly what Byers hopes Nebraska lawmakers will do.

She and other activists with the Safe Harbor Coalition gathered on the steps of the Capitol building to urge senators to help children with behavioral health disorders.

While its coalition said it does not defend the safe haven law, it does defend the right for families with children with mental and behavioral disorders to get the help they need.

"The problems aren't going to go away simply by changing the age of safe haven," Byers said. "We believe infants need protection. We also believe children and families with persistent mental and behavioral health disorders need protection and safety as well."

While Sen. Tony Fulton said the special session will not focus on creating crisis prevention programs for children, he and other senators have already started looking at ways to fund such a programs.

"We're going to fix the safe haven law now," Fulton said. "And in the next session we will deal with the dearth in behavioral health services."

In the meantime, Byers and the Safe Harbor Coalition hope to work hand in hand with lawmakers to help them come up with programs to help children in crisis.