THE FOLLOWING IS A HORIZON HEALTH RELEASE
ABOVE: Right to Life of Edgar County recently donated a new Safe Haven sign to the Horizon Health Emergency Department, further identifying the hospital as a Safe Haven site. (Pictured L to R) Rachel Kelley, Vice President of Nursing & Chief Nursing Officer; Eunice Chaney, Chief Risk & Privacy Officer; Kali Martin, Emergency Room Manager; Jay Carmichael, President & CEO; Samantha McCarty, Director of Emergency Services; Tahj McDaniel, Vice President of the Save Abandoned Babies Foundation; Linda Lane, Right to Life of Edgar County; Mary Taylor, Chairman/President, Right to Life of Edgar County; and Mary Ann Sullivan, Right to Life of Edgar County.
(Paris, IL)—In recognition of Safe Haven Awareness Month, representatives from Right to Life of Edgar County (RTLEC) hosted a small ceremony at Horizon Health on April 24 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the state law that provides legal, safe, and anonymous options for surrendering newborns.
Illinois’ Safe Haven Law, known as the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act, is designed to prevent the unsafe abandonment of newborns. Enacted in 2001, the law allows parents to anonymously surrender an unharmed infant up to 30 days old at an emergency room, staffed fire station, or police station without fear of prosecution.
“We’re honored to collaborate with entities like Right to Life and Abandoned Babies Foundation to strengthen our communities,” said Jay Carmichael, Horizon Health President & CEO.
At the event, Right to Life of Edgar County donated a new Safe Haven sign to the Horizon Health Emergency Department, further identifying the hospital as a Safe Haven site.
The Safe Haven law gives parents a safe, legal, and compassionate option during what may be one of the most difficult decisions of their life, said Samantha McCarty, Director of Emergency Services.
“From an Emergency Department perspective, the Safe Haven program is an essential part of our mission,” she added. “Every day, we are here to provide care in moments of crisis, uncertainty, and vulnerability.”
To date, 163 babies in Illinois have been saved since the Safe Haven law’s inception, said Tahj McDaniel, Vice President of the Save Abandoned Babies Foundation. Most of these infants are placed with adopted families within 24-48 hours of being legally relinquished.
“The majority of them never see the foster care system,” he said.
So far in Illinois, 1,024 days have passed without an illegal infant abandonment, McDaniel added. “There are no questions asked. It can be completely anonymous. ‘No shame, no name, no blame’ is what we say,” he said.
Safe Haven laws exist in all 50 states, accounting for more than 5,280 babies safely surrendered nationally since 1999.
