A newborn boy was surrendered at a hospital in Whittier, the 17th infant to be turned over this year under Los Angeles County’s Safe Surrender Program, county officials said Thursday.
The boy was turned over at a hospital on Tuesday and taken into protective custody. He will be placed with a family by the Department of Children and Family Services.
“Safe Surrender, an idea born from tragedy, has grown into a truly life- saving and life-giving program,” county Supervisor Don Knabe said. “Though we’ve been able to save the lives of 141 babies so far, we need to continue spreading the word that there is a safe, secure and anonymous way for mothers, who find themselves in a desperate situation, to get their baby into safe hands — at any fire station or hospital, any time — and protect them from abandonment.”
The program, which began 14 years ago, allows the surrender of infants that are no more than three days old, as long as there are no signs of abuse.
—City News Service