Mother Surrenders Child to Hospital

A baby, born to a mother who was unable to keep her, is safe and being cared for by authorities thanks to the mother’s decision to use the Safe Surrender Program.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced the surrender today. The child was given to a Pomona hospital earlier in the day, officials said.

The mother had concealed her pregnancy, officials said. She called ahead to the hospital to ask about surrendering the infant. The child is in protective custody, which is standard practice. She will be placed with a family approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services, officials said.

This is the third Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County so far this year and the 92nd since the program began more than ten years ago, according to news release from Knabe’s office.

The program was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2001, according to the release. The program allows someone to surrender an infant that is no more than three days old, as long as the infant shows no signs of abuse.

“The Safe Surrender program was created to give a mother, no matter what the situation, a safe, secure and anonymous way to get her child into safe hands and to protect a baby from abandonment,” Knabe said. “Thanks to the Safe Surrender program, this baby girl has a second chance at life and hope for a bright future.”