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In the last few weeks,
the County of Los Angeles has begun working to increase public
awareness and started coordinating various county, private and
educational institutions to achieve a goal of zero tolerance when it
comes to the abandonment of babies.
Last year, the State past legislation that allows a mother who gives
birth to an unwanted baby, the ability to leave the baby safely at a
hospital emergency room within 72 hours after the birth. This law is
designed to help prevent the abandonment of babies and save lives.
Unfortunately, until "Baby Andrew" was discovered in a dumpster in
Monrovia last month, this new law wasn't well known. And just last
week, another abandoned baby was found in a parking lot in West
Hills.
In an effort to improve the public's awareness, I've directed County
agencies to work in partnership with private and educational
institutions, to create better outreach to the public, especially
teens.
Los Angeles County reported 16 abandoned babies last year. Our
society cannot except even a single baby being abandoned. We must
make a special effort to help ensure mothers who have their babies
in secret, don't just dump their secret. We've got to get these
babies through the doors of hospitals and into safe hands.
Our goal is to not only better educate the public about this law,
but more importantly, our goal must be zero babies thrown away. The
County of Los Angeles is now working to create a national model that
other cities and counties can duplicate to help save the lives of
innocent babies.
For more information about this issue or on other issues, please
contact my office at (213) 974-4444.
DON KNABE
Supervisor, Fourth District
County of Los Angeles
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