SAVE ABANDONED BABIES FOUNDATION

1. SAVE ABANDONED BABIES FOUNDATION Lombard Police Department March 2, 2017

2. Death in Our Own Backyard

3. The Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act The Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act offers a protected, legal alternative to unsafe infant abandonment. • Newborn must be unharmed • Under 30 days old • Hospital/emergency medical care facility • Police station • College/University Police Department • Illinois State Police District Headquarters • Firehouse

4. Law Enforcement’s Role • Accept and provide all necessary emergency services and care for infant. • Offer the parent an information packet containing prescribed materials. • Inform the parent of the name and location of the hospital to which the infant was transported, if the parent returns to the police station within 72 hours after relinquishing the infant. • Tell the parent that by relinquishing the child anonymously, he/she will have to petition the court if he/she wants to prevent the termination of parental rights and retain custody. • Allow the relinquishing parent to remain anonymous and to leave the police station without being pursued, provided that the infant shows no sign of abuse or neglect. • Arrange for the transportation of the relinquished infant to the nearest hospital as soon as possible. • Make a report to the state within 12 hours of accepting a relinquished newborn.

5. Information to Be Handed to Relinquishing Parent • Provides additional resources • DCFS • Save Abandoned Babies Fdn. • IL Dept of Human Services • Midwest Adoption Center • IL Adoption Registry & Medical Exchange

6. Information to Be Handed to Relinquishing Parent • Lets birth mother know her rights under the law. • Explains steps necessary should she change her mind within 72 hours. • Reviews what happens to the baby once it is taken to the hospital and how the adoption process is started. • Explains how parental rights will be terminated after 60 days.

7. Information to Be Handed to Relinquishing Parent • Allows birth mom to anonymously provide pre-natal, medical and physical history and information for newborn • It also allows her to write a letter to her child or her child’s new adoptive family • Self addressed, pre-paid envelope encourages her to send in information

8. Information to Be Handed to Relinquishing Parent • Explains physical and emotional changes that may occur after birth. This is very important to make sure the relinquishing person is given this document. We know you don’t want to be called out to a house days later to find another life lost because the mother did not know the important signs that she needed medical attention. • Describes what physical changes to a woman’s body is typical • How to keep comfortable and alleviate pain. • How to recognize warning symptoms something is wrong • Gives additional, knowledgeable resources to find out more about postpartum care

9. Information to Be Handed to Relinquishing Parent • Offers Illinois adoptees and their birth and adoptive families post-adoption options • Birth and adoptive families can voluntarily share information

10. Next Steps • Create Police Department Protocol if you haven’t already. • Make sure birth parent packets are updated. • Please have birth parent packets located where officers and office staff know where to find them easily. • Please be sure all School Resource Officers have the Safe Haven information readily available at their schools. • If you have a social worker at your police department, be sure he or she has all of the Safe Haven information readily available. • Police spokesman should be reminding interviewers about Safe Haven Law in the media.

11. Public Service Announcement

12. Why Educating About the Law is SO Important • This is the face of an educated young woman who had a bright future ahead of her. It is also the face of a young woman who is accused of murdering her newborn son.

13. A Few of the Children Saved by the Law