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 baby boy. This most recent safe surrender occurred on August 5, 2013 at a hospital in Pomona.

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.

“I’m thankful that this mother, despite her desperate situation, decided to surrender her baby, and give him a second chance at life,” said Supervisor Knabe. “As word continues to spread about the Program, other moms in similar situations can make the right choice for their babies and themselves, because of Safe Surrender.”

This is the fourth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2013, and the 107th since the program began over twelve 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 http://youtu.be/_EGoPXD23G0.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the second time this year with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby boy. This most recent safe surrender occurred on April 12, 2013 at a hospital in Mission Hills.

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 the horrifying news in December of a baby being found at a recycling center, I am relieved to hear that this newborn is safe and will be part of a loving family,” said Supervisor Knabe. “I’m thankful that this mother decided to surrender her baby, rather than put him in a harmful situation. As word spreads about the Program, mothers in desperate situations can make the right choice for their babies and themselves, because of Safe Surrender.”

This is the second Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2013, and the 105th since the program began over eleven 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.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the first  time this year with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby girl. This most recent safe surrender occurred on February 10, 2013 at a hospital in Van Nuys.

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 the horrifying news in December of a baby being found at a recycling center, I am relieved to hear that this newborn is safe and will be part of a loving family,”  said Supervisor Knabe. “I’m thankful that this mother decided to surrender her baby, rather than put her in a harmful situation. As word spreads about the Program, mothers in desperate situations can make the right choice for their babies and themselves, because of Safe Surrender.”

This is the first Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2013, and the 104^th since the program began over eleven 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.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the 13th time in 2012 with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby boy. This most recent safe surrender occurred on Christmas Eve at a hospital in Valencia.

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.

“Thanks to the Safe Surrender program, this baby has a second chance at life and hope for bright a future,” said Supervisor Knabe. “I’m thankful that this mother decided to surrender her baby, rather than put her in a harmful situation. As word spreads about the Program, mothers in desperate situations can make the right choice for their babies, because of Safe Surrender.”

This is the 13th Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2012, and the 103rd since the program began over eleven 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.

Following yesterday’s discovery of an abandoned, deceased newborn at a trash collection center in the city of Industry, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is reminding residents about the County’s Safe Surrender program.

“Heartbreaking tragedies like what occurred in the city of Industry are a reminder to mothers that there is always an option for their baby,” said Supervisor Knabe. “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: No shame, No blame, and No names. Though 101 lives have been saved by the Safe Surrender program, this tragedy shows we have a lot more work to do.”

Established by Supervisor Knabe 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 or fire station in Los Angeles County. 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.

Since the program began, 101 babies have been safely surrendered in Los Angeles County, including twelve this year. The multilingual Safe Surrender Hotline, 1-877-BABY-SAFE, is available 24-hours a day for more information and the location of the nearest Safe Surrender site. Safe Surrender sites can also be found by calling the County helpline at 211 or by visiting www.babysafela.org.

To learn more about the Safe Surrender program, visit http://youtu.be/_EGoPXD23G0.

Families, firefighters and hospital staff joined Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe at Grand Park yesterday evening for a ceremonial candle lighting to honor the 100 newborns who were given a chance at a happy and healthy life thanks to the Safe Surrender program.

“In 2001, the Safe Surrender program began in Los Angeles County.  Eleven years later, I am so proud that 100 infants have been saved and new families have been created,” said Supervisor Knabe.  “While it is difficult to ‘celebrate’ a baby being 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.”

During the ceremony at downtown’s Grand Park, Supervisor Knabe and Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby invited families who have adopted safely surrendered babies and others who had a first-hand role in the program to light a candle in honor of the 100 infants safely surrendered in Los Angeles County. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Grand Park fountain was illuminated in blue light to build awareness of the Safe Surrender program.

“This year alone, 11 newborns have been given a second chance at life and hope for a bright future because of the Safe Surrender program,” said Supervisor Knabe. “As word spreads about the program, mothers in desperate situations can make the right choice for their babies because of Safe Surrender.”

As a way to increase awareness of the Safe Surrender program, Supervisor Knabe encouraged county residents to light a candle at home and post a photo of it to Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #100LivesSaved. Residents are also encouraged to follow Safe Surrender on Twitter @SurrenderSafe and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SafeSurrender.

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 November 28, 100 newborns have been safely surrendered.

To learn more about the Safe Surrender program, visit http://youtu.be/_EGoPXD23G0.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce 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 October 29, 2012 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.

“Thanks to the Safe Surrender program, this baby has a second chance at life and hope for bright a future,” said Supervisor Knabe. “I’m thankful that this mother decided to surrender her baby, rather than put her in a harmful situation. As word spreads about the Program, mothers in desperate situations can make the right choice for their babies, because of Safe Surrender.”

This is the 10^th Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2012, and the 99^th since the program began over eleven 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.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the ninth time this year, and the second time this week, with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby girl. This most recent safe surrender occurred on October 17, 2012 at a hospital in Inglewood.

A second newborn was also safely surrendered on October 11 at a hospital in Los Angeles. As is standard practice, the babies are in protective custody and will be placed with families approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

“Thanks to the Safe Surrender program, these babies have a second chance at life and hope for bright futures,” said Supervisor Knabe. “I’m thankful that these mothers decided to surrender their babies, rather than put them in a harmful situation. As word spreads about the Program, mothers in desperate situations can make the right choice for their babies, because of Safe Surrender.”

These are the eighth and ninth Safe Surrenders in Los Angeles County in 2012, and the 97^th and 98^th since the program began over 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.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the seventh time this year with the report of a safely surrendered newborn. This most recent safe surrender occurred on October 11, 2012 at a hospital in Los Angeles.

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.

“It is important that we continue to get word out about the Safe Surrender program so that mothers in desperate situations know there is a better option for their newborn than 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 eighth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2012, and the 97th since the program began over 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.