Legal procedure for abandoned babies?

Question

Hello, I'm doing research for a book, in which a woman discovers a baby alive in a dumpster. I'd like to know if anyone can tell me the legal procedures for a case like this, in terms of finding the parent. For example, who takes care of the child in the meantime (Child services, foster home, hospital, what?) and how an investigation to find the mother and/or father would be carried out. In terms of the investigation, I don't need anything too specific, but some knowledge on it is necessary and my sifting through the Internet hasn't turned up much to go on. Thanks!

Please note that (although this has already been stated) THIS IS RESEARCH FOR A FICTIONAL NOVEL (this is directed at people like "poopturkey" who do not feel the need to read the information properly). It's called a job.
And thanks to Herding C, for your helpful input on the "baby hatches" and so on.

Answer 1

Here's some trivia on a related matter, in Japan they are considering installing boxes on the side of hospitals to leave unwanted babies.
The door to the box opens up to an incubator or crib inside the hospital. This is to avoid dumpster babies.

I live in Florida and in our state Department of Families and Children would probably take custody of the child. Usually, if such a child is found, a newspaper article is written and as a result there are lots of offers of adoption.

You would probably want to research the procedures of the state your story takes place in. Just call the local social services office or police station. Maybe someone there will be willing to help you.

Answer 2

In our state Child Welfare would take the baby after it was checked out and dischg'd from the hospital. Our state also has a policy where if a woman wants to give her baby away, she will not be asked questions or have any abandonment charges filed against her if she will take it to a fire station or an ER. This was done to discourage dumping babies in dumpsters, church doorsteps, etc., where they have often froze to death before being found. Either way, Child Welfare ends up w/ them and places them in foster care, and hopefully an adopted home.