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Ocean County To Help In Safe Haven Outreach
OCEAN COUNTY - Ocean County's Department of Human Services will join with the Center for Kids and Family at Community Medical Center in applying for a state grant that will assist the agencies in disseminating information on the state's Safe Haven program.
"This program is designed to help the very youngest among us to be placed in a safe environment by their parent anonymously and without fear of arrest," said Freeholder Gerry P. Little, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Department of Human Services. "It's important that those who need this program can access information on it."
With the Safe Haven Infant Protection Community Outreach Program Grant, the county would work with the hospital in promoting awareness of safe havens in Ocean County.
Under the state's Safe Haven law, a baby less than 30 days old can be dropped off at any police department or hospital emergency room by a parent or someone acting on the parent's behalf.
The baby is then turned over to the state Division of Youth and Family Services and is placed in a foster home or pre-adoptive home.
With the $10,000 grant from the state Department of Children and Families, Division of Prevention and Community Partnerships, the county and the hospital expects to conduct educational sessions throughout the county for the community organizations; conduct additional educational trainings for businesses and community agencies; provide materials at health fairs; and establish a community working group to maintain the outreach effort.
"The partners will serve as the conduits to the information to this program," Little said. "Community organizations will play a key role in getting the word out on this Safe Haven program."
"Information is key to providing the help someone needs," Little said. "That is what this outreach is all about."
For more information on the Safe Haven program, please call 1-877-839-2339.
The preceding story was a press release provided by the Ocean County Department of Public Affairs.
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