Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is proud to announce that the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the 10th time this year with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby girl. This most recent Safe Surrender occurred on August 15, at a hospital in Downey.
As is standard practice, the newborn is in protective custody and will be placed with families approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.
“After recent news of tragic abandonments of newborns, I am thrilled that information about the Safe Surrender program is providing a better option to mothers who find themselves alone and in desperate situations,” said Supervisor Knabe. “I appreciate the media helping us spread the word that there is an option to hand-over a baby safely and anonymously—No shame. No blame. No names.”
This is the 10th Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2015, and the 134th since the program began nearly 14 years ago. The program was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2001. 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.
To learn more about the Safe Surrender Program, visit BabySafeLA.org.