PRESS RELEASE - JUNE 27, 2008

Rep. Pond Celebrates Safe Haven Anniversary

Indianapolis, IN - Rep. Phyllis Pond (R-New Haven) joined officials from around the state today at the Statehouse to celebrate the eighth anniversary of the passage of Safe Haven legislation in Indiana.

Safe Haven legislation, initially contained within Senate Enrolled Act 330-2000, gives mothers an alternative to unsafe abandonment of their babies. This law ensures that there is no prosecution for mothers who leave their babies, 45 days old or younger, in the care of professionals at hospitals, police stations and fire stations. The law does not require the mother to identify herself or answer any questions. This also applies to the fathers.

“So many infant lives have been saved thanks to this thoughtful legislation,” said Rep. Pond. “The celebration today recognizes the babies who have safe and full lives with their adopted families. I am saddened by some mothers’ choice to leave their babies in unsafe areas, and Safe Haven legislation seeks to ensure that these infants are given new hope.”

A number of babies saved by Safe Haven laws, now toddlers and elementary students, attended the event with their adoptive families. Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman presided over the event. The birthday party anticipates the start of Indiana Safe Haven Month in July and was also an attempt to raise awareness of Safe Haven legislation with the goal that more mothers-to-be and mothers of newborns will realize the safe, humane choice available to them and their babies. Rep. Pond encourages local constituents to contact her with questions or concerns through e-mail at h85@iga.in.gov or by calling the Statehouse toll-free at 1-800-382-9841. It is also possible to write her at the Statehouse, 200 W. Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

“Reporting methods vary so the exact number of lives saved is not available, Merritt said, “but one child saved is worth the effort on the part of state and local officials.”

Visit us online at: http://www.in.gov/legislative

Back to Top

PRESS RELEASE - JUNE 25, 2008

State celebrates 8th birthday of Safe Haven Law Sen. Merritt authored bill after abandoned newborn was found frozen to death outside an Indy emergency room

Indianapolis, IN - Children whose lives were saved because of Indiana’s “Safe Haven Law” will join their new families, adoption professionals and lawmakers at a Statehouse ceremony on Wednesday (June 25, 11:30 a.m.) to celebrate the eighth anniversary of the legislation and to raise awareness among emergency and medical professionals and young mothers of this life-saving option.

The Indiana Safe Haven Infant Protection Act:

• Allows a distressed parent to give up an unwanted infant safely, legally and confidentially
• Preserves the parent from arrest or prosecution for abandonment
• Requires no names or records
• Permits babies less than 45 days old to be given up at any hospital emergency room, fire station or police station in Indiana
• Makes medical treatment and social services available to the birth mother
• Puts the child into the custody of the Indiana Division of Family & Social Services Administration, which places the infant in a foster or pre-adoptive home

Sen. James W. Merritt, Jr., (R-Indianapolis), authored the legislation, Senate Enrolled Act 330, which was enacted in 2000 after an abandoned newborn was found frozen to death on a snow bank just outside an emergency room entrance of a Northside Indianapolis hospital.

All 50 states now have Safe Haven laws, which have saved the lives of at least 1,000 infants nationwide. Since Indiana adopted the law in 2000, the National Safe Haven Alliance has recorded six lives saved in our state and 20 illegal abandonments, of which at least 7 were fatal.

“Reporting methods vary so the exact number of lives saved is not available, Merritt said, “but one child saved is worth the effort on the part of state and local officials.”

Merritt represents Senate District 31 that inc portions of Lawrence, Warren and Center townships in Marion County.

Back to Top

PRESS RELEASE - JUNE 18, 2008

Governor and Lt. Governor celebrate eight years of Safe Haven Babies Becky Skillman will host Safe Haven birthday party at Statehouse Rotunda for Safe Haven babies, families, adoption and EMT professionals.

Indianapolis, IN - Rep. Phyllis Pond (R-New Haven) joined officials from around the state today at the Statehouse to celebrate the eighth anniversary of the passage of Safe Haven legislation in Indiana.

Safe Haven legislation, initially contained within Senate Enrolled Act 330-2000, gives mothers an alternative to unsafe abandonment of their babies. This law ensures that there is no prosecution for mothers who leave their babies, 45 days old or younger, in the care of professionals at hospitals, police stations and fire stations. The law does not require the mother to identify herself or answer any questions. This also applies to the fathers.

“So many infant lives have been saved thanks to this thoughtful legislation,” said Rep. Pond. “The celebration today recognizes the babies who have safe and full lives with their adopted families. I am saddened by some mothers’ choice to leave their babies in unsafe areas, and Safe Haven legislation seeks to ensure that these infants are given new hope.”

A number of babies saved by Safe Haven laws, now toddlers and elementary students, attended the event with their adoptive families. Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman presided over the event. The birthday party anticipates the start of Indiana Safe Haven Month in July and was also an attempt to raise awareness of Safe Haven legislation with the goal that more mothers-to-be and mothers of newborns will realize the safe, humane choice available to them and their babies. Rep. Pond encourages local constituents to contact her with questions or concerns through e-mail at h85@iga.in.gov or by calling the Statehouse toll-free at 1-800-382-9841. It is also possible to write her at the Statehouse, 200 W. Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

“Reporting methods vary so the exact number of lives saved is not available, Merritt said, “but one child saved is worth the effort on the part of state and local officials.”

Visit us online at: http://www.in.gov/legislative

Back to Top

PRESS RELEASE - AUGUST 13, 2003

Rep. Pond Celebrates Safe Haven Anniversary

Ft. Wayne, IN - Every year in America hundreds of infants are abandoned shortly after birth. Tragically, their mothers are unaware of laws in 45 states that allow them to anonymously turn their children over to authorities for care and adoption without fear of criminal prosecution. A Fort Wayne, Indiana advertising executive is hoping his new media campaign promoting Safe Haven laws in various states will help end this practice. Media members are being asked to attend the viewing of the campaign to help communicate the law to the public.

According to Bob Floyd, President of Robert Floyd Communications of Fort Wayne, the media campaign promotes child-abandonment-amnesty laws by dramatizing the transfer of an infant from its mother to emergency medical-services providers, such as a fireman, policewoman and nurse. The effort’s centerpiece is a 30-second TV spot featuring Patricia Heaton, Emmy Award-winning co-star of the television show Everybody Loves Raymond as spokesperson. Ms. Heaton also does the voice over for a 60-second radio spot that inc testimony from a young woman named Kelli, who abandoned her child as a teenager. The spots will air as a public service announcement on radio and TV stations around Indiana. Campaign-related brochures and posters will be distributed to hospitals, schools and health clinics.

The pro-bono campaign also features a nationwide, 24-hour 800 number which is answered by the AMT Children Of Hope Foundation (tollfree hotline: 877-796-4673, office: 516-796-3511), a New York-based group dedicated to ending newborn abandonment. Floyd said it is critical to employ a nationwide number because provisions of the Safe Haven law vary from state to state. In Indiana, for example, a child can be left who is up to 45 days old. By contrast, in Ohio, a child may only be 72 hours old. As a result of such disparities, phone counselors must be acquainted with such differences in the law. The foundation provides information and counseling to anyone involved in a potential child-rescue effort.

Tim Jaccard, president and founder of Children of Hope, spoke along with Carolyn McDonough, who with her husband Jim, adopted an infant recovered by Jaccard’s organization. Jaccard related his many experiences arranging drop offs of newborns in the New York City area, in particular, one about a mother giving birth in Central Park. The story made headlines in New York (see photocopy of Good Housekeeping article) and the child was adopted by the McDonoughs. Carolyn McDonough, accompanied by adopted daughter Molly, now two, told how Molly came to live with them and how much she has meant to their family.

The announcement took place at the gravesite of a child from Fort Wayne who became known as Baby John Doe. The infant died in 2002 after being abandoned in a local neighborhood (see enclosed copies of newspaper clippings). Floyd chose the site to serve as a poignant reminder of why the campaign was created.

Future plans include rolling the Safe Haven campaign out to other states across the country. To do so, variations of the spot with Ms. Heaton will be produced to reflect differences in state laws as cited above. Floyd anticipates going into production some time in September.

Floyd said his agency created the commercials in response to an article he and his wife read about an Indiana child who had been abandoned and died from exposure. “We were very moved by this child’s story. Especially since it was a tragedy that could have been avoided with the Safe Haven law in place.” So Floyd conceived the campaign, contacted Heaton and produced the spot with the help of Warner Brothers in Burbank, CA(where Everybody loves Raymond is filmed) and local volunteers.

Established in 1995, Robert Floyd Communications is a full service advertising and public-relations firm with offices in Fort Wayne and Orange County, California. The AMT Children Of Hope Foundation is based on Long Island, NY and engages in many aspects of child rescue including education, crisis intervention, training, advocacy, fund raising and memorial activities.

To read the local newspaper reporters stories go to:
Journal Gazette - Frank Gray
News Sentinel - Jennifer Boen

For more information about Safe Haven laws and infant abandonment, go to:
http://www.amtchildrenofhope.com or http://www.safehaven.tv

Back to Top