BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — February is Safely Surrendered Baby Awareness month in Kern County. First signed into law in January 2001, the Safely Surrender Baby Law became permanent in 2006.
Since its inception, Kern has seen 98 babies safely surrendered, including three in 2023. The law is meant to save the lives of newborn infants that are at-risk of abandonment by encouraging parents or persons with lawful custody to safely surrender the infant within 72 hours of birth, no questions asked.
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“The reality is that this program since it’s inception has really saved a lot of lives. In years past, a lot of babies would be abandoned and sometimes they would result in death. This program has changed all that. Saved many babies lives and obviously created a lot of forever homes for these children and families,” Director of Kern County Human Services, Lito Morillo said.
Any newborn baby, up to three days old, can be safely surrendered into the hands of any hospital emergency room or Fire Station staff.