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Some 33 Babies Have Been Given Up Under State's Safe Haven Program
By Bill McLaughlin
Michele E. Lardieri of Community Medical Center's Center for Kids and Family addressed the Ocean County Board of Freeholders at their bi-monthly pre-board meeting last Wednesday on the Safe Haven program.
The New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act became law in 2000 as a means to allow women who are unable to take care of their newborns to leave them in certain places, no questions asked. Safe havens include hospitals, medical facilities, police stations and churches.
The first Safe Haven rescue in New Jersey was brought to Beth Israel Hospital in Newark on August 17, 2000. The male child was examined, taken to a care home and later adopted.
To date, Lardieri said, there have been 33 surrenders statewide, including 10 last year, though none in Ocean County. In the same time, 27 babies were unsafely abandoned.
Given a $10,000 state grant to promote the program, Safe Haven administrators hope to get the word out better to the most vulnerable potential clients. The program's theme is no shame, no blame, no names."
The program is reaching out to women who think there is no alternative to leaving the child on a doorstep or in a dumpster. From 1991-98, there was a 62 percent increase in baby abandonment, according to Safe Haven statistics.
"We want to blanket Ocean County with information," Lardieri said. "Let women know there is an alternative. That they're not alone."
She said women involved in the program do not have to give personal information beyond the basic date of birth. There are no questions asked and no charges.
"So often, we think we're exempt from this," said Freeholder Director John Kelly, adding that the program is
important for women who have no other place to go.
"If we can just save one baby," Lardieri told the board, "Just one baby…"
Teenagers who suddenly find themselves pregnant with no access to health care or strong family base especially need a program like this, the freeholders agreed.
"We want to put posters in the ladies rooms," said Freeholder Gerry Little, speaking of schools and other public buildings.
"We've prepared teachers' kits," Lardieri said. "There's a tendency to stereotype. These are the average girl next door. Let them know there are other alternatives."
There are currently a dozen people trained through Safe Haven to reach out to the community by putting on programs or speaking to organized groups.
"Printed materials have been provided to the chambers of commerce, supermarkets, businesses and libraries in an effort to raise awareness of this program," said Little, who is the board liaison for health and human services issues.
Although the big push will target younger women, all females between 12 and 45 are considered potential candidates for the program.
"This is a neat example of drawing down a grant from the state and coordinating with some of our agencies," said Jill Perez, the county human services director.
Perez said the county administration has been supportive of the program from the outset and she thanked the freeholders for backing the effort.
In Safe Haven, the parent or parents can give up the child with no legal restrictions. The infant is examined and health services offered. Also, social services are tendered to the parent. At that point, the state Division of Youth and Family Services takes custody and the child is placed in a pre-adoptive home. After three weeks, the parent files for termination of parental rights.
Program administrators say there are many reasons for abandonment, ranging from poverty, fear of abuse, humiliation, parental disapproval, rape or incest and pregnancy discovered too late.
For more information, call 1-877-839-2339 or log on to www.safehaven.org.
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