In an effort to raise awareness about California’s Safely Surrendered Baby Law, also known as the Safe Haven Act, Adventist Health Physicians Network in Bakersfield held a press conference on Wednesday morning, marking Safely Surrendered Baby Month, an annual campaign aimed at educating residents about the safe options available for mothers.
The event brought together county leaders, healthcare providers, and nonprofit advocates. Informational presentations were shared, highlighting testimony from nurses and families impacted by the Safely Surrendered Baby Law.
“They can surrender the baby into the arms of hospital personnel and just let them know that they are there to surrender the baby. The personnel will accept the baby and ask if they can fill out a medical questionnaire that is just to establish any medical history. There are no names required for the baby, the family, or the parents upon surrender,” said Stephanie Love, marketing and promotions associate for the Safely Surrendered Baby Coalition.
The Safely Surrendered Baby Law was first enacted in 2001 after a surge of infant abandonment cases particularly in Texas, which was the first state to pass the law, providing a legal and confidential alternative to infant abandonment. A mother can bring an infant who is 72 hours old or younger to any hospital or fire station without having to provide identifiable information.
Parents are given an identification bracelet that matches the infant’s and are provided a 14-day window to reclaim the child. Once that window closes, the parents no longer have the right to reclaim the infant.
Jenny Lavers, operations executive for Adventist Health, was invited to share her experience from her time as a medical social worker, during which she assisted two women interested in surrendering their babies.
“There were two instances early on in my career where I had the opportunity to be a part of a safe surrender. The first was a person who presented to our emergency room and said, ‘I can’t do this,’ handed over the baby, and walked away. The second instance was a woman who delivered in the hospital and told her nurse — and I was brought in as the social worker — ‘I know that I did this, but I can’t do it anymore,’” Lavers shared. “Two very different instances, both with the same outcome: putting a child at the center of what we’re doing.”
Stacy, Steve, and their daughter, Gia Munoz, shared their personal testimony of adopting a surrendered baby. Stacy Munoz, a nurse at Adventist Health, reminisced about receiving a call from a county social worker indicating that a surrendered baby was in need of a home.
“What I meant to do was stop the voicemail so I could immediately call back, but I accidentally deleted it and panicked because it was 4 o’clock on a Friday. The next day, we got to meet our daughter. She was five days old in the intensive care unit. She weighed two pounds. Four days later, we got to bring her home, and about a year after that, we legally adopted her,” said Munoz.
Munoz continued by expressing gratitude to the mother of her child that made the decision to give them their daughter.
“We wanted to speak today because we are beyond grateful to her mother, who made the ultimate loving sacrifice to choose life for her. We were the lucky people who were chosen. I imagine it was a painful decision, and we are eternally grateful from every cell in our bodies to her for making that choice,” she continued.
To conclude the event, Mayor Karen Goh shared words of hope.
“In Tehachapi today it’s snowing, but in Bakersfield on the Adventist Health campus, it’s snowing compassion. It’s snowing for people like Gia and for all the families in Bakersfield. Today we’re here for one reason: to protect life and to offer hope,” said Goh.
For more information on safely surrendering a baby, call 211 or 1-877-222-9723.
