Transcript
Page 1: no shame no blame no names · Child Abuse Hotline 1-877-NJ ABUSE. Safe Haven Voluntary Medical Information ... Drug or alcohol abuse? yes no don’t know If you answered yes to any

NJ Safe Haven Medical Questionaire

no shame.no blame.no names.

Safe Haven►Allowsadistressedparenttogiveupanunwantedinfant

safely,legallyandconfidentially

►Protectstheparentfromarrestorprosecutionforabandonment

►Requiresnonamesorrecords

►Permitsbabiesupto30daysoldtobegivenupatanyhospitalemergencyroom,policestation,firedepartment,ambulance,firstaid,orrescuesquad

►Makesmedicaltreatmentandsocialservicesavailableto thebirthmother-confidentially

►PutsthechildintothecustodyofChildProtectionandPermanency,whichplacestheinfantinafosteror

pre-adoptivehome

Certainly we would prefer that women call us while they arepregnant,notaftergivingbirth,sowecanprovidepropermedicalcareandcounseling.Butat thesametime,wewant toassureparentswhochoosenottokeeptheirchildrenthattheywillnotgoto jail if theydeliver theirbabiestosafehands inahospitalemergencyroom,policestation,firedepartment,ambulance,firstaid,orrescuesquad.

In New Jersey, no one ever has to abandon a child again.

Safe Haven Hotline: 1-877-839-2339

njsafehaven.org

1-877-839-2339

New Jersey has a safe haven for unwanted infants.

Anonymously surrender the baby to any hospital E.R., police station, fire department, ambulance,

first aid, or rescue squad.

These Numbers Can Also Help:

Call211orvisitwww.nj211.orgtoconnectwithsocialserviceagenciesinyourcommunity.

ParentsAnonymousofNewJerseyFamilyHelpline1-800-THEKIDS

DomesticViolenceHotline1-800-572-SAFE

ChildAbuseHotline1-877-NJABUSE

Page 2: no shame no blame no names · Child Abuse Hotline 1-877-NJ ABUSE. Safe Haven Voluntary Medical Information ... Drug or alcohol abuse? yes no don’t know If you answered yes to any

Safe Haven Voluntary Medical Information UndertheSafeHavenlaw,youdonothavetotellusanything,butansweringthesequestionswillhelpustakebettercareofthechild.Pleasefilloutthisformwithanyinformationyouwanttoshare.Thengiveittosomeoneinthehospitalormailitin.Nostampisrequired.Please tell us what you can about the baby:Sincebirth,hasthebabybeensick? yes no don’tknowAnyphysicalhandicaps? yes no don’tknowAnymentalordevelopmentalproblems?(forexample,thebabynevercriedorhastroublesucking) yes no don’tknowIfyouansweredyestoanyofthesequestions,pleasegivedetails:

Waschildgivenaname? yes no don’tknowIfyes,pleasegiveonlythechild’sfirstand/ormiddlename:

Dateandplaceofbirth?

Whatisthechild’srace?Religiousorculturalbackground?

Didmotherreceivemedicalcareduringherpregnancy? yes no don’tknowDeliveredinahospitalorbirthingcenter? yes no don’tknowWasthebabyfullterm(9months)? yes no don’tknowIfnot,howlongwasthemotherpregnant?Whatwasthebirthweight?pounds,ouncesWhyisthechildbeinggivenup?

Mother’s medical history: Ifmotherhasotherchildren,howmany?Raceofmother:Ageofmother:Didmothereverhaveaseriousmedicalproblem?(heartdisease,bloodpressure,diabetes,cancer,etc.) yes no don’tknowHistoryofmentalillness? yes no don’tknowHIV-positive? yes no don’tknowDrugoralcoholabuse? yes no don’tknowIfyes,wasitduringthepregnancy? yes no don’tknowIfyouansweredyestoanyofthesequestions,pleasegivedetails:

Father’s medical history:Raceoffather:Ageoffather:Didfathereverhaveaseriousmedicalproblem?(heartdisease,bloodpressure,diabetes,cancer,etc.) yes no don’tknowHistoryofmentalillness? yes no don’tknowHIV-positive? yes no don’tknowDrugoralcoholabuse? yes no don’tknowIfyouansweredyestoanyofthesequestions,pleasegivedetails:

HowdidyoulearnaboutSafeHaven?

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS INFORMATION

What is Safe Haven?It’s a law: theNew JerseySafeHaven Infant ProtectionAct.Under this law a person may give up an unwanted infantanonymously. As longas thebabyhasnotbeenabused, thepersonmaydosowithoutfearofarrestorprosecution.

Why does New Jersey do this?ThepurposeofSafeHavenistoprotectunwantedbabiesfrombeinghurtorkilledfromunsafeabandonment.Abandoning a baby puts the infant in extreme danger. Toooften,itresultsinthebaby’sdeath.Itisalsoillegal,withsevereconsequences.ButwithSafehaven,thistragedydoesn’thavetohappeneverinNewJersey.

How does it work?Adistressedparentwhoisunabletocareforaninfantcangiveupcustodyofababy less than30daysoldsafely, legallyandanonymously. All that is required is that the baby be broughtto a hospital emergency room, police station, fire department,ambulance,firstaid,orrescuesquadinNewJersey.Aslongasthechildshowsnosignsofintentionalabuse,nonameorotherinformationisrequired.

Can only a parent bring in the baby?No.Theparentmaychoosetohavesomeoneelsebringintheinfant.Itcanbeafamilymember,afriend,aclergymember,asocialworker-practicallyanyone.

Do you have to call before bringing in the baby?No.Youcanwalkinanytime.

Can you help a parent decide where to bring the baby?Yes.TheparentcancalltheSafeHavenHotline1-877-839-2339andgettheaddressanddirectionsforanyhospital,policestation,firedepartment,ambulance,firstaid,orrescuesquadinthestatethatarestaffed24hoursaday,sevendaysaweek.

Does a parent have to tell anything to the people taking the baby?No.Nothingisrequired.However,anyinformationthataparentiswillingtoshare,suchasthechild’shealth,race,dateofbirth,placeofbirthormedicalhistoryoftheparentswillberecorded.Thiscouldbeveryusefulincaringforthechild.ThesequestionscanbeansweredanonymouslyonamedicalquestionnairethatisavailableattheSafeHaven.

What happens if a woman voluntarily provides her personal identifying information to hospital staff while delivering her baby at the hospital or being admitted?If a woman voluntarily provides her personal identifyinginformation to hospital staffwhile delivering her babyor beingadmitted, her anonymitywill no longer beprotectedunder theNewJerseySafeHavenLawandtheStatewillhavethemandatetosearchforandcontacttheinfant’sfatherand/orrelatives.

What happens to the mother when she drops off a baby?If the mother brings in the baby, she will be offered medicaltreatmentandsocialservices.Shecan,ofcourse,refuseifshewishes.Onceshehassafelyturnedoverthebaby,sheisfreetogo.Shecancompleteananonymousmedicalquestionnaireanddropitinanymailbox.

What happens to the baby once the baby is dropped off?Thechildwillbeexaminedandgivenmedicaltreatment,ifneeded.ThenChildProtectionandPermanency(CP&P)willimmediatelytakecustodyandplacethechildinafosterorpre-adoptivehome.After21days,CP&Pwillproceedwiththepermanentadoptionofthebaby.Therearealwaysmanyfamiliesavailablewhowanttoadoptaninfant.

What happens if the mother, or a relative, wishes to regain custody of a baby?Ifthemother,orarelative,wishestoregaincustodyofthebabytheyshouldcontacttheSafeHavenHotlineat1-877-839-2339sothattheycanbegintheprocesstowardsasafereunification.

Don’t let another baby be abandoned. If you or someone you know is considering giving up a child, learn about your options.

Safe Haven Hotline1-877-839-2339


Recommended