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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