ODJFS Director Tom Hayes today announced that 20 newborn babies have been safely surrendered since Ohio's Safe Havens for Newborns law was enacted in April 2001. The finding is based on a survey conducted recently by ODJFS of all 88 County Public Children Service Agencies.

"The findings of the county agency survey confirm that awareness of the Safe Havens program is increasing," Hayes said. "A new parent who may feel desperate, alone or believe there is no other alternative than to abandon their child needs to know there is another option."

In order to make the public aware of the Safe Havens law, ODJFS has created a Safe Havens Website (jfs.ohio.gov/safehavens/), distributed posters, brochures, public service announcements and opinion pieces. The department has distributed Safe Havens information to public service agencies and organizations, hospitals, emergency medical services, fire stations, police stations, schools, and media outlets across the state.

Under the law, a parent (without fear of prosecution) may deliver their unharmed newborn who is not more than 72 hours old, to a medical worker at a hospital, with a peace officer at a law enforcement agency or at an emergency service organization. Parents are not required to provide any personal information but are asked to voluntarily fill-out a medical history questionnaire.

Once a baby has been received by a Safe Havens provider, the newborn will be placed in the custody of a county public children services agency. The agency will then look for an adoptive family.

Counties in which infants have been voluntarily surrendered include Franklin with seven baby drop-offs and Hamilton with four. Counties with one baby surrendered are Butler, Guernsey, Hardin, Knox, Lorain, Lucas, Muskingum, Richland and Summit.

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For more information, contact ODJFS Communications, (614) 466-6650.