Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is proud to announce that the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the third time this month and the 16th time this year with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby boy. This most recent Safe Surrender occurred on October 17 at hospital in Los Angeles. Earlier this month, a baby boy was safely surrendered at a fire station in Long Beach and a baby girl was handed-over at a Los Angeles area hospital.
As is standard practice, the newborn is in protective custody and will be placed with a family approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.
“It’s incredible to know that in the span of less than a month, three newborns were blessed with a second chance at life because of Safe Surrender,” said Supervisor Knabe. “This year has been the most successful year for the Safe Surrender program because mothers, who found themselves in a desperate situation, ultimately made the better choice for them and for their babies.”
This is the 16th Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2015, and the 140th since the program began 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.