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Safe Haven for Newborns at Huntington Hospital
In the summer of 2000, Suffolk police arrested a North Babylon
woman for allegedly leaving her newborn son to die on a bathroom
floor and then discarding his body in a sump.
In 1998, according to national statistics, over one hundred
newborns were abandoned by their mothers; 33 of these died
before or soon after discovery.
SAFE HAVENS FOR NEWBORNS is a pilot project at Huntington
Hospital, initiated in 2000, that represents a collaboration
between our institution and the Suffolk County Department
of Social Services. It grew from a series of conversations
involving Suffolk County legislators, the District Attorney's
office, and hospital leadership.
The program seeks to save the lives of newborns in danger
of abandonment and to help preserve the health and future
of their mothers.
A Mission statement adopted in August 2000 describes our
commitment and our goals:
"In recognition of the fact that desparation, hopelessness,
and despair may overwhelm a mother's natural protective instincts
and lead her to abandon a defenseless newborn, we have established
a program for the protection of such newborns that facilitates
the safe transfer of an infant to appropriate personnel in
an environment that will be non-threatening to the mother/guardian
and protective of the infant's physical well-being."
New York State legislation protects mothers who want to keep
a newborn from harm by accessing a Safe Haven program. Following
are some common questions and answers:
When can I bring my newborn to the hospital for Safe Haven?
Anytime, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Where should I go? What should I say?
You can go to the Emergency Room, or you can go to any hospital
employee. Just tell them that you are there for Safe Haven
and they will help you and your baby.
Do I need to give information?
It is helpful to caregivers at the hospital for you to tell
us something about the baby's health, but you are under no
obligation to do so.
How can I get more information?
You can call Susan Goldman, RN at Huntington Hospital. The
number is (631) 351-2346.
You can also call the Suffolk County Safe Haven Hotline at
1-866- TLC - BABY (1-866-852-2229).
If you are interested in adoption inquiries, you can call
(631) 853 - KIDS (631-853-5437).
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