Home District Attorney Disaster Response Team Tip Us Off Crime Statistics Stop Bad Checks Prosecution Program Secret Safe Place Make the Right Choice Good Samaritans Live Your Freedom Domestic Violence Meet Your District Attorney

For New Mothers     For District Attorneys         download the replication manual         download logo/signage files         report a newborn in your jurisdiction

Secret Safe Place for Newborns For District Attorneys A Secret Safe Place For Newborns Locations Commitment from area hospitals to provide medical care for the newborns was essential to success in Mobile County. All six hospitals in this county accept the newborns and provide a medical examination and any care the child requires. All hospitals in a jurisdiction should be approached and asked to participate in the program. Experience in Mobile County indicates that as one hospital becomes involved, other hospitals are motivated to participate. Emergency room personnel who are often familiar with the tragedy of infant abandonment and violence are strong advocates for hospital participation. The contact information of personnel at participating hospitals can be requested (call Kris Schaffer at the Mobile County District Attorney's Office 251-574-8400) so that hospital personnel considering participation can contact them directly about their experiences. Distinctive A Secret Safe Place For Newborns signage identifies participating hospitals. The signage helps relieve doubt in the mother's mind that she is at a "safe place" for her and her newborn. Hospitals are ideal safe places. They are easy to identify. They are often open 24 hours a day. Medical professionals staff them. Based on experience in Mobile County, hospitals are recommended as the best locations. In areas where hospitals are not readily accessible, other locations can be used. Police, sheriff and fire stations are good alternatives because they usually have personnel trained in first aid and can provide transportation of the newborn to medical facilities if required. When non-hospital locations are used, it will be important to make arrangements with local hospitals or other medical facilities to provide the physical examination of the newborn and any necessary medical care. Personnel at all places designated as A Secret Safe Place For Newborns location should be trained in how to protect the anonymity promised to mothers and obtain medical history information from the mother when possible. A letter detailing the promises to mothers and their newborns and explaining the mother's right to change her mind has been developed. It should be given to the mothers whenever possible. The letter used in Mobile County was prepared by the Mobile County Department of Human Resources and is included in this manual. Contact information within the local Department of Human Resources should be included in the letter. Be sure to include a stamped, self-addressed family medical history request. In addition, information regarding local counseling, medical and other social services should be emphasized. All locations must be instructed in the steps to take when an infant is brought to them. The protocol used with hospitals in Mobile County is provided. Protocols may need to be different for other types of locations. For example, if a police station is designated as A Secret Safe Place For Newborns location a uniformed police officer should accept the infant and the newborn should be brought to the officer in charge and the procedure initiated by him or her. It is recommended that in instances where A Secret Safe Place For Newborns locations are not hospitals, the infant be immediately taken to a hospital or physician's office for examination and any required medical help. Regardless of the type of location, a medical examination and medical care for the newborn should be provided. It is essential that only authorized locations offer the promises to mothers and infants. A Secret Safe Place For Newborns signage reassures mothers in crisis that they are at a safe location. To gain and maintain the confidence of mothers (so that future mothers will bring their children to safe locations) the promises to mothers must be provided consistently. <-- Previous | Next -->