Press Release
MARCH 14th, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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CONTACT: TIM O’CONNOR
PHONE:561-355-3576
FAX:561- 355-3035
MARILYN L. MUÑOZ,
DCF
561-837-5080
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PALM BEACH
COUNTY, FL-
“Don’t Panic” is the message
being disturbed statewide to
mothers who may be thinking
of abandoning their baby at
birth.
41 babies have now been brought to fire rescue stations,
hospitals and other safe
havens since the Safe Baby
Law was passed in Florida.
But, the unknown number is
how many babies have been
left undiscovered in
dumpsters, canals,
incinerators, parks and
other locations.
“Unfortunately, there are pregnant women in our area who have
feelings of shame and fear
over their pregnancy, don’t
want to care for their
newborn and are willing to
just throw the baby away,”
said Palm Beach County
Health Department Director
Jean M. Malecki, M.D. “The
new safe baby law goes a
long way to assure the
safety of these newborns but
we all need to work together
to reach these women before
they act.”
Babies three days old or less can be brought to any fire
station, hospital or safe
haven in Palm Beach County
without the mother being
questioned. The baby is then
taken into safe custody,
given appropriate medical
attention and through the
Department of Children and
Families is placed into
foster care as it awaits
permanent placement.
“While abandonment’s are well publicized, many people still
do not know about the
alternatives. Nothing is
more heart wrenching than
investigating a case where a
baby has been abandoned and
left to die when a safe
alternative was a phone call
away,” states Department of
Children and Families
Interim District
Administrator, Debbie
Fenstermaker.
Help for these needy women is now just a phone call away.
Volunteers of A Safe Haven
for Newborns now have a toll
free number, 1-877-767-2229
which is answered 24 hours a
day in English, Spanish and
Creole. Women can remain
totally anonymous and will
be offered information on
where they can go for
prenatal care, guidance,
healthcare and where to find
the nearest organization to
help their baby.
Posters and brochures are being widely distributed throughout
the county and all residents
are being asked to write
down this phone number and
pass it along to a person
who may need it. “Help is
available. We simply need to
tell those that need it
most”, said Dr. Malecki.
Information can also be
obtained through a website
at
www.asafehavenfornewborns.com .
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