RELEASE: October 7, 2005

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Human Services grants to protect babies Community groups to
promote Safe Haven Infant Protection Act

TRENTON—Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner James M. Davy announced $97,000 in grants today to 11 community groups to promote the state's Safe Haven program to help stop baby abandonments.

“We need to take whatever steps are necessary to let people in our communities know about Safe Haven,” said Commissioner Davy. “Only by partnering together with local communities can we prevent tragedies like abandoned babies.”

One of the first states to have a baby abandonment law, New Jersey 's Safe Haven program took effect in August 2000. Under the law, a baby can be surrendered at a police station or hospital emergency room without fear of prosecution - provided that the baby is less than 30 days old and has not been abused or neglected.

Within a two week span in January 2004, three babies were left abandoned in unsafe locations. Two of these babies were found dead. In response, Commissioner Davy expanded upon the existing media advertising campaign by calling for partnerships with local communities to spread the “No shame. No blame. No names.” message about Safe Haven.

“Innocent babies do not have to die when we have a Safe Haven law,” said Commissioner Davy. “Over the past five years, 21 babies have been safely turned over to the state through the Safe Haven program.”

Of the 21 Safe Haven babies, 14 babies were formally adopted through the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) including the first Safe Haven baby on August 17, 2000 at Newark Beth Israel Hospital . Four other babies are in different stages of the adoption process. The remaining three babies were returned to their mothers who had a change of heart.

The following grants were awarded (includes counties where the agency will work):

•  Association for Special Children; Passaic ; $5,000

•  Bethel Development Corp.; Cumberland ; $10,000

•  Cathedral Community Development Corp.; Union and Middlesex; $10,000

•  Jewish Renaissance Foundation; Middlesex; $10,000

•  Lakewood Community Services Corp.; Ocean; $10,000

•  My Daughter's Keeper; Middlesex; $10,000

•  Partnership for Community Health; Bergen ; $10,000

•  Paterson Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies; Passaic ; $8,950

•  St. Luke CDC; Passaic ; $6,600

•  Vision Inspires Synergy in Organization; Union ; $10,000

•  Zion Interfaith Corp; Atlantic/Burlington/Camden/Cumberland/Ocean; $6,450.

Commissioner Davy also announced a targeted request-for-proposals (RFP) for community agencies in Essex, Hudson and Monmouth counties. Approximately $50,000 will be available to promote Safe Haven in those counties.

For more information on the Safe Haven program, call the Safe Haven hotline at

1-877-839-2339.

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