Issues

Newborn Girl Safely Surrendered in Torrance

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the fifth time this year with the report of a safely surrendered newborn. This most recent safe surrender occurred on October 31, 2011 at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance.

The mother gave birth to the baby girl at the hospital and informed the hospital social worker that she would like to surrender the infant. As is standard practice, the baby girl is in protective custody and will be placed with a family approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

“The Safe Surrender program was created to give a mother, no matter what the situation, a safe, secure and anonymous way to get her child into safe hands and to protect a baby from abandonment,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Thanks to the Safe Surrender program, this baby girl has a second chance at life and hope for a bright future.”

This is the fifth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2011, and the 88th since the program began ten 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.

Knabe Calls for Reform in Physician Payment Program

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion to implement reforms to the Physician Services for Indigent Program (PSIP) on a motion by Supervisor Don Knabe.  Through the PSIP, doctors at private hospitals are compensated when patients cannot pay.

“The County is the ultimate safety net and our doctors are critical to ensuring that the neediest patients in LA County receive basic emergency care,” said Supervisor Knabe.  “We need to stop putting band-aids on a situation that requires real reform or we will be back to this same dilemma again next year.  We cannot continue to freeze payments and reduce rates – it is an insult to the doctors that we all depend on.”

Due to insufficient funding, exacerbated by the State pulling its support, the Department of Health Services froze its payments to doctors.  To address the immediate threat to the program, at its meeting last week, the Board approved a reduction in the rate paid to doctors, reimbursing them at twelve percent of the cost.

Through Knabe’s motion, the Director of Health Services will be authorized to reset interim payment rates going forward.  He has also been directed, with the assistance of the CEO and Auditor-Controller, to implement the remaining recommendations in the Auditor-Controller’s report of March 11, 2011.

“We must take the next step forward in improving our operations and how we manage emergency healthcare so that all residents of LA County who must visit an emergency room can expect the availability of services and quality they deserve,” said Supervisor Knabe.

Knabe Calls for General Relief Reform to Reduce Fraud, Help Those In Need

A motion by Supervisor Don Knabe on the Tuesday, October 18, 2011 agenda for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors calls for specific recommendations for restructuring the County’s General Relief (GR) program to reduce fraud and direct resources to those most in need.  The motion comes as the County has seen its caseload nearly double since January 2007.

General Relief is a state-mandated program that requires counties to provide assistance to indigent adults who do not qualify for other benefits.  Los Angeles County accounts for nearly 70 percent of the total statewide population receiving benefits.

In 2010 and 2011, on motions from Supervisor Knabe, the County began restructuring the GR program, with a focus on strengthening efforts to assist GR participants with accessing one of the two paths off of the program – employment or disability.  During the review process, it was learned that nearly one-third of the assistance payments were being made to individuals who were not pursuing either path, requirements for participation in the program.

“During these tough times, we have seen the caseload for General Relief rise dramatically, with an alarming cost to the County,” said Supervisor Knabe. “On top of these already sizeable demands on our system, the economic crisis has increased the number of people needing our services, due to a foreclosure or job loss.  Many families are using County services for the first time, desperate for help.”

“As a result, we have been more aggressive about ensuring that scarce taxpayer resources are properly used to aid those most in need and the results to date have been very positive,” Knabe continued.  “But we cannot ignore the fact that a huge number of program participants are not playing by the rules.  That simply isn’t fair to those who are actively seeking employment or moving onto disability.”

Earlier this year, the County’s Chief Executive Office and Department of Public Social Services developed a menu of options to reduce costs for administering the GR program, including verification of residency, increased case management and strengthening the sanction policy when GR participants refuse or fail to comply with program requirements.  Knabe called for further assessment of these options and am implementation plan.

Health Screenings and Counseling Available to Homeless Veterans at San Gabriel Valley Stand Down

Free health care, employment training, and other services will be available to homeless veterans as part of the San Gabriel Valley Stand Down for Homeless Veterans on Thursday October 20, 2011 at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

The San Gabriel Valley Stand Down for Homeless Veterans, hosted by the San Gabriel Valley Veterans Employment Committee, will provide services to homeless veterans such as showers, haircuts, laundry, food, medical and mental screenings, and VA benefits counseling.

“This is an opportunity for us to help our veterans who cannot afford these services on their own,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Many of these Veterans returned home from fighting for our Country and were left to fend for themselves. This is a hand up, not a hand out, for those who have sacrificed so much for all of us. ”

For more information about the San Gabriel Valley Stand Down for Homeless Veterans, contact Monica Mooring at Volunteers of America at 213-505-0631, or Ron Hansel at the Veterans Employment Committee at 626-347-2572. To make contributions and donations, call 213-505-0631.

Knabe Calls for County Audit of Coliseum Commission

In a unanimous vote, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday called for the Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller to audit the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission and, if necessary, to serve as the interim chief financial officer of the commission.

The vote, on a motion sponsored by Supervisors Don Knabe and Mark Ridley-Thomas, came after numerous allegations of financial mismanagement at the facility.

“We need to mobilize any and all resources to maintain the long-term financial stability of the Coliseum,” said Supervisor Knabe, who also serves as the Vice President of the Coliseum Commission.  “A thorough and complete audit will ensure that we get the Coliseum back on track and honor its history and the important role it will continue to play in the Los Angeles region,” he continued.

The motion would authorize the Auditor-Controller to play a temporary role at the Coliseum, but only if requested.

Since 1945, Los Angeles County has participated in the management of the Coliseum with the City of Los Angeles and the State of California through the Joint Exercise of Powers Act. The Joint Powers Act specifies the books of the Commission shall be open to the city, county and state partners.

Safe Surrender Program Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Families, firefighters, hospital staff and social workers joined Supervisor Don Knabe today at the Los Angeles County Hall of Administration to recognize the 10th anniversary of the Safe Surrender program.

“I am overwhelmed and thrilled that we could honor this special day,” said Supervisor Knabe. “While it is difficult to ‘celebrate’ a baby be given up, when we consider what the alternative could have been, we recognize the courage it took for a mother, who found herself in a desperate situation, to make a better choice for her child.“

Families who have adopted safely surrendered babies, along with firefighters, hospital staff and social workers who have had a first-hand role in a Safe Surrender, were recognized by Supervisor Knabe for making the program a reality.

“The true heroes of Safe Surrender are the people who volunteer to become parents to the infants who have been surrendered,” said Knabe. “Families come in all shapes and sizes and if a child is born and raised in a home that is loving and nurturing, there is no better nest from which they can fly.”

During the anniversary event, Supervisor Knabe made a surprise announcement that the First5 LA Commission approved $500,000 to update, reinvigorate and increase the Safe Surrender program’s outreach efforts.

“As an agency charged with advocating for the health and safety of this county’s youngest children, I am very pleased that the First 5 LA Commission approved $500,000 to be used to implement a new county-wide public education campaign,” said Evelyn V. Martinez, chief executive officer of First 5 LA.  “It is crucial that we continue to keep the Safe Surrender Program in the spotlight, so parents know they have options.”

Established in 2001, the Safe Surrender program allows a parent or legal guardian to confidentially handover an infant, three days old or younger, to any hospital emergency room, fire station or other designated Safe Surrender site, as long as the baby has not been abused or neglected. As of September 2011, 87 newborns have been safely surrendered.

Supervisor Knabe to Welcome Families to 10 Year Anniversary of Safe Surrender Program

Out of what could be a tragic outcome of abandonment or death, 87 newborns have been given a chance for a healthy and happy life thanks to the Safe Surrender program which was established in LA County ten years ago.  Supervisor Don Knabe will recognize the importance of the program, celebrate the families and promote increased outreach to provide an option for mothers in desperate situations.

When:  Wednesday, September 28, 2011; 11:30a.m.  Program begins at noon.

Where:  Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 West Temple Street; 8th floor balcony,  Downtown Los Angeles 90012.

Who:  Supervisor Knabe celebrates the children and their families created by the Safe Surrender program, along with firefighters and hospital personnel who have been involved in a Safe Surrender.

Also speaking are Debi Faris, founder of the Garden of Angels, and Yoli Flores, who helped spearhead the program.

Background:

The Safe Surrender Program, based on the statewide Safe Haven Law, was developed and championed by Supervisor Don Knabe and unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2001.  The program’s purpose is to protect newborns from being hurt or killed because of abandonment. Safe Surrender allows a parent or legal guardian to confidentially handover an infant, three days old or younger, to any hospital emergency room, fire station or other designated Safe Surrender site.  As long as the baby has not been abused or neglected, the person may surrender the baby without fear of arrest or prosecution for child abandonment.

Please RSVP to 213-974-4444.

Small Businesses Get a Boost in Los Angeles County

At its September 13, 2011 meeting, the Board of Supervisors increased the County’s bid preference from five percent to eight percent for certified, local small businesses which bid on county contracts.  The change goes into effect November 1.

Local small businesses are currently eligible for a bid price reduction or ‘preference’ on the cost component of their submission.  The County is required to select the lowest responsible and responsive bid for projects and services.  Today’s Board action lowers the bid of a small business by eight percent.  This preference is used only to determine the lowest bid during evaluation and does not change the amount of the contract award.

“Small businesses are a huge employer in Los Angeles County and play a vital role in our economy,” said Supervisor Don Knabe.  “During these challenging times, when jobs are absolutely critical, we know that two out of three jobs in this County are created by small businesses.  Our action today will help small vendors who want to do business with the County and we’re going to see them get more contracts. This supports small businesses, encourages them to hire more employees and boosts our local economy.”

Other County incentives for small businesses include a 15-day prompt pay turnaround on invoices for certified vendors. Also, County buyers are authorized, on a spot purchase basis, to acquire up to $5,000 in goods or services without getting the required three quotes only if purchased directly from a certified local small business.

Several small business programs are administered by the County Office of Small Business which conducts training and workshops for local businesses, as well as certifies small businesses to be eligible for bid preferences and other benefits of the program.  More information is available at Office of Small Business’ website at www.laosb.org  or 855-230-6430.

Newborn Boy Safely Surrendered in Torrance

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the fourth time this year with the report of a safely surrendered newborn. This most recent safe surrender occurred on August 24, 2011 at a hospital in Torrance.

The mother gave birth to the baby boy at the hospital and informed the hospital social worker that she would like to surrender the infant. As is standard practice, the baby boy is in protective custody and will be placed with a family approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

“The Safe Surrender program was created to give a mother, no matter what the situation, a safe, secure and anonymous way to get her child into safe hands and to protect a baby from abandonment,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Thanks to the Safe Surrender program, this baby boy has a second chance at life and hope for a bright future.”

This is the fourth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2011, and the 87th since the program began ten 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.

County Launches Pilot Program to Address Infant Deaths Due to Unsafe Sleeping Practices

In a motion by Supervisors Don Knabe and Mark Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles County will develop a two-year pilot program at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center that will address the staggering number of infant deaths that have occurred due to unsafe sleeping practices and head trauma.

The program, modeled off a similar pilot program in Baltimore, Maryland, will focus on educating parents and hospital workers on safe sleeping practices, proper handling of fragile infants and the risks of shaking newborns. The Baltimore program, Infant Safe Sleeping and Abusive Head Trauma Pilot, led to four years without a single abusive head trauma death and a decrease in the rate of sleep-related deaths.

“Infant deaths resulting from unsafe sleeping practices or Shaken Baby Syndrome are a preventable tragedy,” said Supervisor Knabe. “It is important that we educate parents on how to safely care for their newborn before they take their infants home from the hospital.”

Harbor-UCLA Medical Center was selected for the pilot program because of its strong pediatric department. Approximately 900 live births occurred at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center last year.

At least 140 infants in Los Angeles County have died in the past two years due to unsafe sleeping practices, while others have died or been disabled by Shaken Baby Syndrome, which occurs when an infant is forcefully shaken. Half of children affected by Shaken Baby Syndrome die, while survivors may require lifelong medical care.

The program will be operated by the Inter-Agency Council on Abuse and Neglect (ICAN), part of the Department of Health Services, which also operates the Safe Surrender program.