CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES CELEBRATE
ANNIVERSARY OF ILLINOIS' "SAFE HAVEN LAW"
27
newborns safely, legally relinquished and adopted
in 5 years of Abandoned Newborn
Infant Protection Act
CHICAGO,
Nov. 14, 2006 - Children adopted under Illinois' "Safe Haven Law" joined
their adoptive families, adoption agencies, the Save Abandoned Babies Foundation
and the Department of Children and Family Services today to recognize the 5-year
anniversary of the Illinois Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act and call for
increased public awareness of this safe and legal alternative to abandonment.
In an educational forum and reception hosted and sponsored by Mike Ditka's Restaurant
in Chicago, some of the first children adopted under the law celebrated with their
adoptive families, as advocates spoke out on the law and its potential to protect
newborns in Illinois.
"Even
one life saved is a victory for our children," said Save Abandoned Babies
Foundation President Dawn Geras, "and to know that 27 newborns have been
safely, legally relinquished and adopted into loving families over these 5 years
validates the importance of this legislation. We thank the many families and adoption
agencies who have stepped forward to help, and appeal to all to help spread knowledge
of this law."
The
Save Abandoned Babies Foundation, a not-for-profit volunteer group dedicated to
saving the lives of newborns that might otherwise be abandoned, began its grassroots
effort in March of 2000, and by August of 2001 had won passage of the Illinois
Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act. At that time, Illinois became the 15th
state to pass a "Safe Haven Law", and 47 states now have similar legislation
in effect. This past June, 2006, Governor Rod. R. Blagojevich signed new legislation
amending the law to extend the period that a parent may legally relinquish an
unharmed infant from 72 hours to 7 days, helping to save more lives by giving
parents in crisis more time to responsibly consider their options. The law provides
that a parent need only hand over the newborn, with no questions asked, to staff
at a hospital, emergency care facility, police station or fire station. Through
a licensed adoption agency, the newborn is then placed for adoption with a loving
family.
"The
beauty of the Safe Haven Law is that it completes the loving and responsible choice
of the birthparent by giving an adoptive family the unimaginable joy of loving
and raising a child," said the parents of "Baby Zoe", one of the
very first children adopted under the law in Illinois.
While
"Baby Zoe" was one of the 27 newborns legally relinquished and adopted
under the law, records kept by DCFS show that 43 infants were illegally abandoned
during those same 5 years, with 21 of those found dead. On a national level, the
National Safe Haven Alliance, based on information from 37 of the 47 states that
have a Safe Haven law, reports that at least 806 infants that have been legally
surrendered since the first state based legislation.
DCFS
collaborates with the Save Abandoned Babies Foundation to build public awareness
of the Safe Haven Law. Over the last 3 years, the Department has printed and distributed
statewide over 800,000 brochures, posters and bus cards, in three languages. Recent
initiatives by the Foundation have included the posting of Safe Haven signs outside
all designated locations in Chicago, as well as the distribution of thousands
of educational teacher kits to schools who are now required under state law to
incorporate the Safe Haven Law into health education classes. Volunteers and donors
are encouraged to contact the Foundation at www.saveabandonedbabies.org, or by
calling 312-440-0229.
-30-
Contact:
Kendall
Marlowe, 312-814-6847
