RELEASE: August 8, 2000

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The Department of Human Services has established a toll-free, 24-hour-a-day hotline for the Safe Haven Infant Protection Act, which is now in effect.

The new law allows distressed parents, or someone acting on their behalf, to drop off a child less than 30 days old at a hospital emergency room or a police station without being prosecuted for abandonment. The hotline -- 1-877-839-2339 -- will respond to reports of infants left in safe havens and address inquiries from people who are considering giving up or abandoning a child.

"Certainly we would prefer that women call us while they are pregnant, not after giving birth, so we can provide proper medical care and counseling," said DHS Commissioner Michele K. Guhl. "But at the same time, we want to assure parents who choose not to keep their children that they will not go to jail if they deliver their babies to safe hands in a hospital ER or a police station."

Guhl said DHS has established protocols for hospitals and police departments to follow. For example, hospitals will immediately examine an abandoned infant and notify police only if the child appears to have been abused or neglected.

Hospital or police personnel who receive an abandoned baby are expected to offer medical treatment and social services to the birth mother. Also, hospital workers and police can record information offered voluntarily by the person dropping off a baby. Such information may include the child's health, race, date and place of birth, and the physical or mental health history of the birth parents.

The Division of Youth and Family Services will immediately take custody of the abandoned children and place them in foster or pre-adoptive homes.