Harbor:Baby Safe Surrender Program

  • California has a Safely Surrendered Baby Law which allows parents or guardians the choice to legally surrender their infant at any hospital or fire station in LA County, no questions asked. Since this program las launched, over 250 infants have been safely surrendered. There is no criminal liability for a person looking to surrender their newborn up to 72 hours old, and are encourage to do so in the safest way possible.
    • If a child is dropped off and is greater than 72 hours old, call DCFS and Sheriffs for child abandonment
  • In the event a parent or guardian wishes to surrender their infant, the infant is to be brought to the Pediatric Emergency Department and the following procedures will take place:
    • Obtain the Surrendered Newborn Pack (from PED Clerk/Charge RN) which will consist of:
      • Newborn Surrender Checklist
      • Newborn Identification Bracelet
      • Confidential “Safely Surrendered Baby” Medical Questionnaire
      • Stamped Self-addressed envelope for return
      • Suspected child abuse report
    • A coded confidential ID bracelet is placed on the newborn’s wrist and ankle
      • Registration will remove any identifiers and place with John/Jane Doe while keeping the original MRN if available.
    • The surrendering individual is provided with a copy of the ID bracelet in the event they want to reclaim the child within 14 days. Document the Band ID number on the questionnaire provided to the surrendering individual.
    • The surrendering person is then provided with a confidential “Safely Surrendered Baby” medical questionnaire. By law a “good faith” attempt must be made to provide this to the surrendering individual and should be filled out in the hospital or provided with a return envelope to fill out at another time.
    • Perform a thorough medical exam including any history that may be able to be obtained as well as a thorough physical
    • The ED physician will provide any medical care that may be necessary
      • Newborns surrendered in accordance with the SSB law are eligible for Medi-Cal
    • Contact DCFS and Social Work immediately on the surrender of the infant
      • DCFS will assume temporary custody of the infant and place a hospital hold on the infant in the event the surrendering individual attempts to reclaim the child before a safety evaluation by DCFS can be performed.
    • Record the ID band number in the Pediatric ED Log with the diagnosis “surrendered baby boy/girl”
    • The ED physician will fill out the suspected Child Abuse Report. Document the Date, Time, and 19-digit DCFS reference number and the DCFS personnel spoken to.
      • Submit electronically by going to the Department of Children and Families Website: Https://mandrepla.org
        • Select “Submit follow-up Suspected Child Abuse Report (SS 8572)”
        • Continue as “Guest” and select “Call Type-Referral”
        • You will then be asked the 19-digit DCFS reference number
        • When completed, print a copy of the report for the patient’s records
    • The ED physician will be responsible for deciding whether the infant requires admission or if the infant can be discharged into DCFS custody.
    • In the even the parent returns to the hospital attempting to reclaim the infant within 14 days of surrendering, connect them with the clinical social worker who will refer them to DCFS.
  • For more information on the LA County Safe Surrender Program
  • For more information on the policy and procedures: Policy 376
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