Michigan has achieved a significant milestone in the state's efforts to keep babies safe with the 200th surrender of a newborn under the state's Safe Delivery law.
Under the law, a biological parent may legally surrender an infant no more than 72 hours old to an emergency service provider. An emergency service provider is a uniformed or otherwise identified employee or contractor of a hospital, fire department or police station who is inside the building and on duty, or a paramedic or emergency medical technician who responds to a 911 call.
The law has been in effect since 2001.
"These are 200 newborn babies who have been given a chance at life thanks to this important law," said Nick Lyon, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. "Safe Delivery provides parents who may be in a desperate situation a safe, legal and anonymous option of surrendering an infant who will be placed in a loving, adoptive home."
MDHHS wants all Michiganders to be aware of the law. Unfortunately, there are still situations in which parents abandon their babies in unsafe locations. A communications toolkit and other resource materials are available at www.michigan.gov/safedelivery to help more people understand the law and how they can help promote awareness in their community.
Parents, professionals and other residents also can call the toll-free 24-hour Safe Delivery hotline at 866-733-7733.
Published: Fri, Aug 25, 2017
