Saved Infant in Whittier Shows Importance of California's Safely Surrendered Baby LawApril 21, 2005 |
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| Los Angeles, CA – The recent case of a newborn baby turned over to doctors and nurses at a hospital emergency room in Whittier highlights the importance of California's Safely Surrendered Baby Law, which allows parents in dire situations to give up their babies confidentially without fear of prosecution. The newborn Caucasian male was safely surrendered at Whittier Hospital on April 20. Although the infant was born slightly premature, doctors reported that he was doing well. The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services will immediately begin the search for an adoptive home. "This case just shows that parents in dire situations have an option that saves the life of their child," said First 5 LA Executive Director Evelyn V. Martinez. "We need to spread the word that there is an alternative to abandonment. The more the community knows about it, the more lives will be saved." Under the Safely Surrendered Baby Law, parents may surrender their newborn infants at hospitals or other designated sites within the first 72 hours after birth without facing criminal prosecution for child endangerment. Due to the leadership of County Supervisor Don Knabe in promoting the law, parents in Los Angeles County can also take their newborns to any designated Los Angeles County fire station. Under the Safely Surrendered Baby Law, parental information is confidential and infants will receive the medical care they need. The Department of Children and Family Services takes custody of these infants and moves them into adoptive homes as quickly as possible. Anyone wanting more information about Los Angeles County Safely Surrendered Baby sites should visit the program's website in Los Angeles County at www.babysafela.org. To identify a Safely Surrendered Site in your area of Los Angeles County, call (877) BABY-SAFE, or (877) 725-5111. Los Angeles County Safely Surrendered Baby sites will display a sign with the Safely Surrendered Baby logo, which shows a picture of an extended arm holding a baby. The goal is to end all incidents of infant abandonment. This case marks the sixth instance this year where a child has been saved through the Safely Surrendered Baby Law. One abandoned child this year has been found deceased. | Created in 1998 by a voter initiative, First 5 LA uses tobacco tax revenue to fund a variety of early childhood development programs to children from the prenatal stage to age 5 and their families in Los Angeles County. |
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