RELEASE: January 20, 2004

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Commissioner Designee Increases Funding for Emergency Safe Haven Ads

After a third baby abandonment in as many weeks, Human Services Commissioner designee James M. Davy announced that he has earmarked an additional $100,000 to immediately air radio and television ads to raise awareness of the Safe Haven Infant Protection Act.

Davy also ordered that plans be implemented immediately to partner with local faith-based and community action agencies to flood neighborhoods with information about the Safe Haven program in supermarkets, Laundromats, bus stops, and other neighborhood sites throughout the state.

The Safe Haven law allows people to surrender an unwanted child at a police station or hospital emergency room without fear of prosecution, provided that the child is less than 30 days old and has not been abused or neglected.

Davy’s announcement comes in the wake of the discovery of a six-pound baby who was found washed up on a Ventnor beach in a nylon bag. The baby apparently had been strangled shortly after birth, according to investigators.

“We need people to know that there is an alternative to abandoning your baby. We need to speak to people where they live, where they shop and where they work,” said Davy.

Governor McGreevey has tapped Davy to be the next Commissioner of the Department of Human Services, which administers the Safe Haven Program though its Division of Youth and Family Services. He is replacing current Commissioner Gwendolyn L. Harris who has accepted a post at Rutgers University.

Since the law was enacted in August 2000, 14 children have been dropped off safely at New Jersey hospitals. However, another 14 children have been abandoned in unsafe locations in New Jersey during that same time period – three in this month alone.

“This year is not even three weeks old, and we already have three babies who were either murdered or discarded,” Mr. Davy said. “We need to take immediate steps to be sure that people know about our Safe Haven program.”

The department will also partner with community- and faith-based organizations and will immediately mail thousands of volunteer kits to those agencies. Moreover, Davy said he has directed the department to focus efforts on getting information distributed at public housing complexes and shelters.

The Safe Haven law appropriates $500,000 annually to cover a variety of efforts, including television and radio spots, magazine and other print ads, posters on NJ Transit buses, and materials to help school teachers and community volunteers to share information about the Safe Haven program.

The ad campaigns have featured the slogan: “No shame. No blame. No names.”

They also reference a Safe Haven hotline – 1-877-839-2339 – which people can call for information about the program.

“The Safe Haven law can save a baby’s life,” Mr. Davy said. “Certainly we would prefer that mothers come to us while they are pregnant so they get medical care and counseling and any other services they might need. But it clearly is better to have the baby dropped off in a hospital than dumped on a beach. If a mother finds herself in distress over an unwanted pregnancy, we want her to know that this option exists as a last resort.”

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