A newborn girl has just become the 45 th baby handed over under the Safe Surrender Program, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced this morning.

The baby girl was safely surrendered yesterday at Pomona Valley Medical Center. This incident is the ninth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2006 and the 45 th since the program began in 2001.

The Safe Surrender Program in Los Angeles County was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in June of 2002. It allows someone to surrender an infant that is no more than three days old, as long as the infant shows no signs of abuse.

This case could have ended in tragedy, but because of the Safe Surrender program, this baby girl has a long life ahead of her, said Supervisor Knabe. I am happy this mother made the right choice for her baby.

As is standard practice, the newborn girl will be immediately placed in protective custody by the Department of Children and Family Services and placed with a foster adoptive family.