Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is proud to announce that the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the second time this week and 12^th time this year with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby boy. This most recent Safe Surrender occurred this morning, September 16, 2015, at a fire station in Lancaster. A baby girl was also safely surrendered on September 11, 2015 at a hospital in Long Beach.

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.

“I am thrilled to hear that, in less than a week, two babies have been given a second chance at life and the opportunity to grow up in a loving family thanks to the Safe Surrender program,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Safe Surrender, an idea born from tragedy, has grown into a truly life-saving, and life-giving program. Though we’ve been able to save the lives of 136 babies so far, we need to continue spreading the word that there is a safe, secure and anonymous way for mothers, who find themselves in a desperate situation, to get their baby into safe hands—at any fire station or hospital, any time—and protect them from abandonment.”

This is the 12^th Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2015, and the 136^th 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.

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.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is proud to announce that the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the ninth time this year with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby boy. This most recent Safe Surrender occurred earlier today, August 11, at a hospital in Los Angeles.

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.

“A week after a newborn baby boy was found abandoned in a stroller on a street in south Los Angeles, and one day after another baby was abandoned in Santa Clarita, I am thrilled to hear that a mother made the better choice and safely surrendered her baby boy,” said Supervisor Knabe. “The recent abandonments of two newborns in Los Angeles County were near tragedies, but they were also opportunities for us to remind mothers, who may find themselves alone and in a desperate situation, that there are options to hand-over their baby safely and anonymously—No shame. No blame. No names. Thank you to our partners in the media for reminding the public about the Safe Surrender program.”

This is the ninth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2015, and the 133rd 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.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is proud to announce that the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the eighth time this year with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby boy last week. This most recent Safe Surrender occurred on July 2, 2015 at a fire station in Tarzana.

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.

“It is incredible to know that this baby’s innocent life was saved because of the Safe Surrender program,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Thanks to the courage of this mother, who found herself in a desperate situation, this baby boy has a second chance at life and the opportunity to grow up in a loving family. If other people, who may be in a similar situation know that there are options, they too can make the better choice for their baby and safely surrender them at any hospital or fire station—No shame. No blame. No names.”

This is the eighth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2015, and the 132^nd 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.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is proud to announce that the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the seventh time this year and third time this month with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby girl this week. This most recent Safe Surrender occurred on May 27, 2015 at a hospital in Los Angeles. Earlier this month, a baby girl was safely surrendered at a hospital in Lynwood on May 2 and another baby girl was safely surrendered at a Los Angeles area hospital on May 8.

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.

“It is incredible to know that three young, innocent lives have been saved this month because of the Safe Surrender program,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Because of the courage of the mothers, who found themselves in desperate situations, these three baby girls have a second chance at life and the opportunity to grow up in a loving family. If other people, who may be in a similar situation know that there are options, they too can make the better choice for their baby and safely surrender them at any hospital or fire station—No shame. No blame. No names.”

This is the seventh Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2015, and the 131st 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.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is proud to announce that the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the sixth time this year and second time this month with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby girl over the weekend. This most recent Safe Surrender occurred on May 8, 2015 at a hospital in Los Angeles. A baby girl was safely surrendered at a hospital in Lynwood on May 2.

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.

“It’s hard to imagine anyone wanting to give up a child, but these mothers bravely made the better choice for their baby girls—No shame. No blame. No names,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Though we’ve been able to save the lives of 130 babies so far, we need to continue spreading the word that there is a safe, secure and anonymous way for mothers, who find themselves in a desperate situation, to get their baby into safe hands—at any fire station or hospital, any time—and protect them from abandonment.”

This is the sixth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2015, and the 130th 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.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is proud to announce that the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the fifth time this year with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby girl over the weekend. This most recent Safe Surrender occurred on May 2, 2015 at a hospital in Lynwood.

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.

“It’s hard to imagine anyone wanting to give up a child, but this mother bravely made the better choice for her baby girl—No shame. No blame. No names,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Though we’ve been able to save the lives of 129 babies so far, we need to continue spreading the word that there is a safe, secure and anonymous way for mothers, who find themselves in a desperate situation, to get their baby into safe hands—at any fire station or hospital, any time—and protect them from abandonment.”

This is the fifth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2015, and the 129th 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.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is proud to announce that the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the second time in less than a month with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby girl early yesterday morning. Yesterday’s safe surrender occurred at a hospital in Los Angeles. On March 11, a baby boy was safely surrendered to a paramedic in Gardena—less than 72 hours after a celebration in Grand Park to honor the lives that have been saved and all the families that have been created by the Safe Surrender program.

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.

“It’s hard to imagine anyone wanting to give up a child, but this mother bravely made the better choice for her baby girl—No shame. No blame. No names,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Though we’ve been able to save the lives of 128 babies so far, we need to continue spreading the word that there is a safe, secure and anonymous way for mothers, who find themselves in a desperate situation, to get their baby into safe hands—at any fire station or hospital, any time—and protect them from abandonment.”

This is the fourth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2015, and the 128th 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.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe was joined by over 150 people last night in Grand Park to dedicate a “Garden of Life” in recognition of the 125 newborns who have been Safely Surrendered in Los Angeles County. Over 30 families who adopted a Safe Surrender baby helped plant the new garden.

“Safe Surrender is a program that gives life,” said Supervisor Knabe. “This garden is dedicated to all the newborns who have been saved and the families that have been created. The flowers in this ‘Garden of Life’ will grow just as the 125 children have blossomed, and they will continue to bloom, honoring future Safe Surrender babies.”

During the ceremony, Supervisor Knabe also announced the launch of an academic scholarship program for children who have been safely surrendered.

“We’ve given these children life, and now it’s time to give them an opportunity for higher education,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Every single Safe Surrender baby, whether they were surrendered in 2001 or 20 years from now, deserves the opportunity to pursue all of their hopes and dreams.”

Established in 2001, the Safe Surrender program allows a parent or legal guardian to confidentially hand over 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 March 2015, 126 newborns have been safely surrendered.

To learn more about the Safe Surrender program, please visit BabySafeLA.org.

Fourteen years after it was established in Los Angeles County, 125 newborns have been given a second chance for a happy and healthy life, thanks to the Safe Surrender program. Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe will welcome families to a “Garden of Life” dedication honoring the 125 lives saved by the Safe Surrender program.

When:
Monday, March 9, 2015 at 4:00pm

Where:
Grand Park, Olive Court
Located between the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration and the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Downtown Los Angeles

What:

• Supervisor Knabe will invite families who have adopted Safe Surrender children to honor the 125 lives saved by the program by planting flowers in a newly dedicated “Garden of Life” in Grand Park.
• Supervisor Knabe will also announce the launch of an academic scholarship program for children of the Safe Surrender program.
• Families and staff will be invited to enjoy pizza and cupcakes in Grand Park.

Background:
The Safe Surrender Program, based on the statewide Safe Haven Law, was 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. For more information about the Safe Surrender program, visit BabySafeLA.org.