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http://www.crestlinecourier-news.com...news/news3.txt
BABY LEFT AT MCH
By Michael P. Neufeld
A healthy newborn baby girl was left at Mountains Community Hospital (MCH) last
Wednesday about 4:20 p.m.
An unknown young woman dropped off the seven-pound baby that was approximately
two days old in the foyer of the emergency room. The child was wrapped in a
T-shirt, a towel and had been placed in a pink laundry basket with handles.
Helen Meyers, social services department manager at MCH, indicated that the
baby measured 19-inches long. "The baby was examined by hospital staff and was
determined to be in good health," Meyers reported.
MCH personnel observed the baby for several hours before releasing the baby to
San Bernardino County Child Protective Services.
Under California law, authored by State Senator Jim Brulte, the mother of an
infant 72-hours old or younger may surrender her infant - without fear of
prosecution - at any public or private hospital emergency room. Voluntarily
surrendering a child under Brulte's legislation is not considered child abuse
or neglect.
Mountains Community Hospital is one of 22 such medical facilities in San
Bernardino County. Signs posted in English and Spanish in the emergency room
foyer state the facility is an approved drop-off site.
"We've had a policy and plan in place since Senator Brulte's legislation became
law Jan. 1, 2001," Meyers stated. "But this is the first time we've had to work
the plan and we're pleased the mother felt safe in using our services.
Everything went perfectly.
"It's a great law," Meyers continued, "and the baby girl is getting excellent
care and will be placed in a licensed foster home while child welfare workers
find her the best adoptive family."
Brulte's legislation also allows the mother to change her mind within 14 days.
However, the woman who dropped the baby off on Wednesday did not receive a
duplicate of the coded, confidential ankle bracelet placed on the baby when it
was admitted to MCH.
"Our designated staff person also wasn't able to provide the woman surrendering
the child with a medical information questionnaire that the person can fill out
and mail in at a later date," Meyers added. "If the mother would like to
confidentially call me on my private line (909) 336-3651 extension 3015, I'll
be more than happy to take the information over the phone with no other
questions asked. That medical information may help protect the child in later
years."
Senator Brulte's so-called "Safe Arms for Newborns" bill was enacted to help
reduce the number of babies abandoned in California each year.
"Young mothers who are scared and desperate," Brulte stated, "have a
life-preserving alternative to safeguard their babies and give them a place
where they will be cared for and appreciated.
"I've written and voted on many pieces of legislation in my years in the
Legislature," Brulte revealed. "But, I've never been more proud of any single
piece of legislation than the Safe Arms for Newborns law."
Brulte noted that the goal of the bill was to save the lives of newborns and
give women who aren't ready the chance to opt out of motherhood. AT PRESS TIME:
A man and a woman reportedly made themselves known to authorities to try and
reclaim the baby left at Mountain Community Hospital. A spokesperson for Child
Protective Services said they were unable to confirm or deny the contact or
what hearings, if any, had been held to try and determine if the baby can be
claimed by the couple. New patient confidentiality laws also prohibit Mountains
Community Hospital authorities from commenting on the new development in the
case.The State Senator's office is aware of numerous times a person has walked
into a medical facility and voluntarily turned over an infant.
The Garden of Angels organization, based in Yucaipa, reports that to date, just
under 50 babies have safely been surrendered in California.
"That's proof the legislation is working," Brulte explained. "Government can't
solve every problem in society. But it's very gratifying and heartwarming to
see a law created by government has served these mothers and protected these
newborns."
At least four babies have been left at hospitals in San Bernardino County since
Brulte's legislation became law. The first was in August 2002 when a baby boy
was left at St. Bernadine's Hospital in San Bernardino. Several days later, a
newborn girl was handed over to personnel at Chico Medical Center. In June
2003, an unidentified man dropped off a baby boy at the Arrowhead Regional
Medical Center in Colton.
Since 1996, Garden of Angels has buried the bodies of just under 70 abandoned
and unclaimed children, just from Southern California alone. The organization's
founder, Debi Faris, approached Senator Brulte requesting he write the
legislation.
"This law," Farris stated, "was created to SAVE the lives of future newborn
children."
Brulte told People magazine (December 2000), "She told me her story, and it was
heartbreaking. Debi asked me to help put the Garden of Angels out of business."
The State Senate and Assembly unanimously passed the law (Senate Bill 1368) in
September 2000 and it became effective in January the following year.
Forty-five other states currently have "Safe Arms for Newborns" legislation.
The states presently without bills are Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Nebraska
and Vermont. State laws vary on the age of infants who may be relinquished. The
ages range from 72-hours old or younger up to five days old or younger.
For additional information about the "Safe Arms for Newborns" law visit
www.gardenofangels.org.
http://www.crestlinecourier-news.com...news/news3.txt
BABY LEFT AT MCH
By Michael P. Neufeld
A healthy newborn baby girl was left at Mountains Community Hospital (MCH) last
Wednesday about 4:20 p.m.
An unknown young woman dropped off the seven-pound baby that was approximately
two days old in the foyer of the emergency room. The child was wrapped in a
T-shirt, a towel and had been placed in a pink laundry basket with handles.
Helen Meyers, social services department manager at MCH, indicated that the
baby measured 19-inches long. "The baby was examined by hospital staff and was
determined to be in good health," Meyers reported.
MCH personnel observed the baby for several hours before releasing the baby to
San Bernardino County Child Protective Services.
Under California law, authored by State Senator Jim Brulte, the mother of an
infant 72-hours old or younger may surrender her infant - without fear of
prosecution - at any public or private hospital emergency room. Voluntarily
surrendering a child under Brulte's legislation is not considered child abuse
or neglect.
Mountains Community Hospital is one of 22 such medical facilities in San
Bernardino County. Signs posted in English and Spanish in the emergency room
foyer state the facility is an approved drop-off site.
"We've had a policy and plan in place since Senator Brulte's legislation became
law Jan. 1, 2001," Meyers stated. "But this is the first time we've had to work
the plan and we're pleased the mother felt safe in using our services.
Everything went perfectly.
"It's a great law," Meyers continued, "and the baby girl is getting excellent
care and will be placed in a licensed foster home while child welfare workers
find her the best adoptive family."
Brulte's legislation also allows the mother to change her mind within 14 days.
However, the woman who dropped the baby off on Wednesday did not receive a
duplicate of the coded, confidential ankle bracelet placed on the baby when it
was admitted to MCH.
"Our designated staff person also wasn't able to provide the woman surrendering
the child with a medical information questionnaire that the person can fill out
and mail in at a later date," Meyers added. "If the mother would like to
confidentially call me on my private line (909) 336-3651 extension 3015, I'll
be more than happy to take the information over the phone with no other
questions asked. That medical information may help protect the child in later
years."
Senator Brulte's so-called "Safe Arms for Newborns" bill was enacted to help
reduce the number of babies abandoned in California each year.
"Young mothers who are scared and desperate," Brulte stated, "have a
life-preserving alternative to safeguard their babies and give them a place
where they will be cared for and appreciated.
"I've written and voted on many pieces of legislation in my years in the
Legislature," Brulte revealed. "But, I've never been more proud of any single
piece of legislation than the Safe Arms for Newborns law."
Brulte noted that the goal of the bill was to save the lives of newborns and
give women who aren't ready the chance to opt out of motherhood. AT PRESS TIME:
A man and a woman reportedly made themselves known to authorities to try and
reclaim the baby left at Mountain Community Hospital. A spokesperson for Child
Protective Services said they were unable to confirm or deny the contact or
what hearings, if any, had been held to try and determine if the baby can be
claimed by the couple. New patient confidentiality laws also prohibit Mountains
Community Hospital authorities from commenting on the new development in the
case.The State Senator's office is aware of numerous times a person has walked
into a medical facility and voluntarily turned over an infant.
The Garden of Angels organization, based in Yucaipa, reports that to date, just
under 50 babies have safely been surrendered in California.
"That's proof the legislation is working," Brulte explained. "Government can't
solve every problem in society. But it's very gratifying and heartwarming to
see a law created by government has served these mothers and protected these
newborns."
At least four babies have been left at hospitals in San Bernardino County since
Brulte's legislation became law. The first was in August 2002 when a baby boy
was left at St. Bernadine's Hospital in San Bernardino. Several days later, a
newborn girl was handed over to personnel at Chico Medical Center. In June
2003, an unidentified man dropped off a baby boy at the Arrowhead Regional
Medical Center in Colton.
Since 1996, Garden of Angels has buried the bodies of just under 70 abandoned
and unclaimed children, just from Southern California alone. The organization's
founder, Debi Faris, approached Senator Brulte requesting he write the
legislation.
"This law," Farris stated, "was created to SAVE the lives of future newborn
children."
Brulte told People magazine (December 2000), "She told me her story, and it was
heartbreaking. Debi asked me to help put the Garden of Angels out of business."
The State Senate and Assembly unanimously passed the law (Senate Bill 1368) in
September 2000 and it became effective in January the following year.
Forty-five other states currently have "Safe Arms for Newborns" legislation.
The states presently without bills are Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Nebraska
and Vermont. State laws vary on the age of infants who may be relinquished. The
ages range from 72-hours old or younger up to five days old or younger.
For additional information about the "Safe Arms for Newborns" law visit
www.gardenofangels.org.