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LA
County's "Baby Safe" Program
by which newborns can be safely given up
August 1, 2003
Los Angeles County has a "Baby Safe" Program by which
newborns can be safely given up, no questions asked, at any
County hospital emergency room or fire station.
Every baby deserves a chance for a healthy life. If someone
you know is considering abandoning a newborn, please let her
know there are other options.
It is best that women seek help to receive proper medical care
and counseling while they are pregnant. But at the same time,
we want to assure parents who choose not to keep their baby
that they will not go to jail if they deliver their babies to
safe hands. |
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UPDATE:
Following
another newborn baby's tragic death and the arrest of his
23-year-old mother on murder charges, the LAPD and LA Fire
Department held a press conference highlighting the need
for better understanding of the "Safe Haven" law
and "Baby Safe" program"
BABY
SAFE Press Conference to Bring Awareness to the "Safe Haven"
Law
August 12, 2003
LAPD's
Assistant Chief George Gason, Fire Chief William R. Bamattre
and Detectives from Juvenile Division stressed that under
California’s law, a mother may, within 72 hours of delivering
her baby, safely surrender a child.
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In California, the Safely Surrendered Baby Law allows an individual
to safely turn over an unwanted infant with no fear of arrest
or prosecution for abandonment as long as the baby has not been
abused or neglected. The law does not require that names be
given when the baby is surrendered.
Parents are permitted to bring a baby within 3 days of birth
to any hospital emergency room or designated fire station in
the County of Los Angeles. The baby will be placed in a pre-adoptive
home while the adoption process gets underway. |
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Baby
Safe Program
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No shame.
No blame.
No names.
In Los Angeles County:
1-877-BABY SAFE
1-877-222-9723
www.babysafela.org
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What
is the Safely Surrendered Baby Law?
California's Safely Surrendered Baby Law allows parents to give
up their baby confidentially. As long as the baby has not been abused
or neglected, parents may give up their newborn without fear of
arrest or prosecution.
How does it work?
A distressed parent who is unable or unwilling to care for a baby
can legally, confidentially and safely give up a baby within three
days of birth. The baby must be handed to an employee at a Los Angeles
County emergency room or fire station. As long as the child shows
no signs of abuse or neglect, no name or other information is required.
In case the parent changes his or her mind at a later date and wants
the baby back, workers will use bracelets to help connect them to
each other. One bracelet will be placed on the baby, and a matching
bracelet will be given to the parent.
What if a parent wants the baby back?
Parents who change their minds can begin the process of reclaiming
their newborns within 14 days. These parents should call:
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Los Angeles County
Department of Children and Family Services
800 / 540-4000
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Can
only a parent bring in the baby?
In most cases, a parent will bring in the baby. The law allows other
people to bring in the baby if they have legal custody.
Does the parent have to call before bringing in the baby?
No. A parent can bring in a baby anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week so long as the parent gives the baby to someone who works
at the hospital or fire station.
Does a parent have to tell anything to the people taking the baby?
No. However, hospital personnel will ask the parent to fill out
a questionnaire designed to gather important medical history information,
which is very useful in caring for the child. Although encouraged,
filling out the questionnaire is not required.
What happens to the baby?
The baby will be examined and given medical treatment, if needed.
Then the baby will be placed in a pre-adoptive home. What happens
to the parent? Once the parent(s) has safely turned over the baby,
they are free to go.
Why is California doing this?
The purpose of the Safely Surrendered Baby Law is to protect babies
from being abandoned by their parents and potentially being hurt
or killed. You may have heard tragic stories of babies left in dumpsters
or public bathrooms. The parents who committed these acts may have
been under severe emotional distress. The mothers may have hidden
their pregnancies, fearful of what would happen if their families
found out. Because they were afraid and had nowhere to turn for
help, they abandoned their infants. Abandoning a baby puts the child
in extreme danger. It is also illegal. Too often, it results in
the baby's death. Because of the Safely Surrendered Baby Law, this
tragedy doesn't ever have to happen in California again.
A baby's story
At 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 25, 2002, a healthy newborn baby
was brought to St. Bernardine Medical Center in San Bernardino under
the provisions of the California Safely Surrendered Baby Law. As
the law states, the baby's mother did not have to identify herself.
When the baby was brought to the emergency room, he was examined
by a pediatrician, who determined that the baby was healthy and
doing fine. He was placed in with a loving family while the adoption
process was started.
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In Los Angeles County:
1-877 -BABY SAFE
1-877-222-9723
www.babysafela.org
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