1-Why is there a
need for Safe Haven?
• There is an escalating crisis in the United
States. Mothers are keeping their pregnancy a secret,
then disposing of the child after the birth. Safe Haven
provides an alternative to a frightened girl/woman,
who, in a moment of desperation, may do something drastic,
destroying two lives, hers and her babies.
• It is now a Florida Law which allows a mother/
father an alternative to infant abandonment with your
confidentiality protected. Resulting in:
- A child’s life is saved.
- A mother/father is saved from a lifetime of guilt
and criminal prosecution.
- The hopes and dreams of parents waiting to adopt are
fulfilled.
Note:
Many Hospitals and all staffed 24/7 Fire and Emergency
Medical Service stations have signs with our logo and
helpline # posted outside of their facility.
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2-Why does this happen?
• Newborn babies are being left to die by mothers
who believe, for whatever reason, that they have no
other alternative. While no one can fully understand
why a person would endanger a vulnerable child, two
common denominators present themselves – isolation
and denial. Mothers (and fathers) who abandon a newborn
child often believe that they have no alternative. They
often believe that they are, and in fact they may be,
utterly and completely alone. Living in this isolation,
they are left to wrestle with problems that they are
not psychologically or emotionally equipped to handle.
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3-What is the stereotype of a
person that abandons their baby?
• The generally accepted stereotype of a person
who abandons a newborn child is that of a teenage, underprivileged
mother. However, our research indicates that this is
a tragedy that crosses all categories of age, ethnicity,
and socioeconomic status.
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4-Where can someone leave his or
her baby under the “Safe Haven” program?
• The baby may be taken to any hospital emergency
room, staffed fire rescue station, or staffed emergency
medical service station in the state of Florida.
• Please remember that it is mandatory to give
the baby to a person working at one of these facilities.
That is the best way to ensure that the baby will be
well taken care of.
• People working at these facilities usually have
some form of visible identification.
• Tell the person that you want to leave your
baby with “Safe Haven”.
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5-Must the baby be taken to the
closest hospital, fire rescue station or Emergency Medical
Service station?
• No, the baby may be left at any hospital, staffed
fire rescue station or staffed Emergency Medical Service
station in the state of Florida.
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6-What happens if a baby is left
in an unsafe place instead of a designated “Safe
haven location”?
• The person will face criminal charges.
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7-Why must the baby be 7days old
or less?
• Because the first hours/days of a newborn’s
life are the most vulnerable, therefore, more urgent.
• Allows a mother/father to make a constructive
and life affirming decision for the infant and themselves.
• The option of directly placing the baby with
an adoption Agency is always available.
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8-How can the “Safe Haven”
location be sure that the baby is seven days old or
less?
• The law actually states, “A newborn that
a licensed physician reasonably believes to be approximately
7 days old or less.”
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9-What will they ask the person
leaving the baby?
• Be assured – No one is going to try to
find out who you are - The person leaving the baby is
not required to answer any questions.
• A Safe Haven for Newborns or the people at the
facility where the baby is left may ask some medical
history questions that will be placed in the baby’s
records, which may help answer future health questions.
Also, referral information from “Safe Haven”
is available for the parent to speak with someone about
what they have been through and / or to receive medical
attention.
• The purpose of this program is to save the lives
of newborns. Therefore, the premise is that a newborn
left in safety without medical records is preferable
to an unsafe abandonment resulting in an almost sure
death.
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10-Is it true that the police
will not be called?
• The Police and the Department of Children and
Families will not be called if the unharmed baby (approximately
7 days old or less) is taken to a hospital, fire rescue
station or Emergency Medical Service station and given
to a person who works there. If the parents follow these
guidelines they will not be prosecuted for abandonment
or neglect.
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11-What happens to the baby?
• If the baby is left at a fire rescue or Emergency
Medical Service station they will give the baby emergency
medical services to the extent of their knowledge and
then transport the baby to the closest hospital.
• The hospital will take care of any emergency
medical services the baby may require.
• The hospital will contact on a rotating basis,
a licensed child-placing agency from a list produced
by the Florida Adoption Information Center (see Safe
Haven Website). The baby will then be placed with parents
who have been waiting to adopt a child.
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12-What about father’s rights?
• This program does not change any present laws
regarding father’s rights.
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13-What if the parents change their
mind and want their baby back?
• A parent of a newborn infant left at a hospital,
emergency medical services station, or fire station
under the “Safe Haven” law may claim his
or her newborn infant up until the court enters a judgment
terminating his or her parental rights which is approximately
30 days. A claim for the newborn infant must be made
to the entity having physical or legal custody of the
newborn infant or to the circuit court before whom proceedings
involving the newborn infant are pending.
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14-I would like to adopt a baby
left at a “Safe Haven”. Who do I contact?
• Safe Haven’s mission is to save the lives
of infants in danger of being abandoned. We do not receive
physical custody of the babies or are involved in anyway
with the adoption process.
• If you are interested in adoption call the Florida
adoption information center at 1-800/96-Adopt and please
visit our website at www.asafehavenfornewborns.com to:
- Learn more about the adoption process.
- View a list of “Safe Haven” licensed child
placing agencies in Florida.
- See other helpful links.
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15-Can’t we help girls/women
before they get to this stage?
• That is one of the hopes of Safe Haven for Newborns.
We emphasis “Please don’t wait until your
baby is born.” They can call our 24/7 multilingual
referral helpline number (1-877-767-BABY(2229)). We
hope that girls/women will call this number before they
have their babies-effectively thwarting a crisis before
it begins. We also hope that our message is reaching
young mothers to realize that they are not alone.
- The community cares about them.
- There is confidential help available.
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16-Who pays for the medical cost
of the newborn?
• Medicaid pays the cost of medical care for an
unharmed relinquished newborn by virtue of the same
laws that existed prior to passage of the “Safe
Haven Law”.
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17-Does such legislation encourage
abandonment?
• No – leaving a baby at a “Safe Haven”
is the last option and is a compassionate alternative
to abandoning a baby to a almost sure death. The mother
is encouraged to talk to someone even before the baby
is born and is encouraged to either keep the baby or
to go through the normal channels of the adoption process.
She also is encouraged to seek prenatal care.
• Obviously this Law is not the final answer to
the societal problems contributing to the cause of infant
abandonment but it provides a compassionate approach
to saving the lives of innocent and helpless babies.
This law is a positive outcome for all involved: a child’s
life is saved; a mother or father is saved from lifetime
of guilt, anguish and criminal prosecution; the hopes
of a family waiting to adopt a child are fulfilled.
We believe - If one life is saved, all our efforts are
truly worthwhile!
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18-Is “A Safe Haven for
Newborns” and “Safe Place” the same
program?
• No – Two totally different programs -
The “A Safe Haven for Newborns” is a Florida
Law.
• The Safe Place program is an excellent program
for youth (under age 18) having problems of abuse, neglect,
lost or in some dangerous situation with a drunk or
unsafe driver or just wanting to talk to someone about
a problem.
• The Safe haven for Newborns allows mothers,
fathers or whoever is in possession of an unharmed newborn,
approximately, seven days old or less (to be determined
by a (Licensed Physician) to leave them at Safe Havens:
any hospital, staffed fire station, or staffed emergency
medical service station, with no questions asked, totally
anonymous, free from fear of prosecution. These “Safe
Havens” working to receive these babies coupled
with the identity protection of the parent, make this
Law an effective tool in preventing unnecessary deaths
of newborns in the state of Florida.
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19-Do other States have similar
legislation?
• All 50 states have enacted some version of “Safe
Haven” legislation.
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20-What is the
Helpline all about?
• First of all it is absolutely confidential.
• Our helpline is staffed by caring individuals
who will assist you in your time of need and will never
judge you.
• It is a state wide, toll free, multilingual,
referral helpline and available 24/7 (1-877-767-2229).
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21-Who is the Gloria M. Silverio
Foundation – “A Safe Haven for Newborns”?
• We are a Florida non-profit 501(c) 3 organization
dedicated to eliminating infant abandonment in the state
of Florida, through education, prevention and community
involvement. Through our “partnering efforts”
in all 67 Florida Counties, our public awareness efforts
and the availability of our statewide multilingual 24/7
helpline, we are saving lives.
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22-What if I have questions not
addressed here?
• If it is a crisis, call the 24/7 referral helpline:
1-877-767-2229.
• All other questions, visit our website at www.asafehavenfornewborns.com,
email us at safehaven@asafehavenfornewborns.com or call
us at our administrative office: 305-882-1304, ext 103.
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23-How can I help?
• Volunteer your time – there are many ways:
Please email us at safehaven@asafehavenfornewborns.com
or call us at our administrative office: 305/882-1304,
ext: 103.
• Donations: We are private, non profit, 501(c)3
Florida organization and your donations will help us
continue to save little lives:
Mail to: Gloria M. Silverio Foundation. “A Safe
Haven for Newborns”
6801 NW 77th ave. Suite 404
Miami, FL 33166
Or go on line and donate thru our secured donation process
(see our website at www.asafehavenfornewborns.com).
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