Florida statue 383.50 is designed to prevent newborns from abandonment by their birth parent(s).Currently, the law allows the parent(s) of an unharmed, 7 day old or younger newborn to be left confidentially at any hospital, emergency medical facility, 24/7 staffed fire/EMS station; no questions asked. The facility accepting the newborn shall provide necessary medical care and in the case of Fire/EMS personnel, immediately transport the newborn to the nearest hospital with emergency services. After the newborn is stabilized, the hospital must contact, on an equitable basis, a local licensed child placing agency for the purposes of transferring physical custody of the newborn infant to them or contact the Department of Children and Families in cases of abuse.
Effective July 1,2012, HB 1163 includes the following changes regarding unharmed surrendered newborns: A surrendered infant who tests positive for illegal drugs, narcotic prescription drugs, alcohol, or other substances, but shows no other signs of child abuse or neglect, shall be placed in the custody of a licensed child placing agency. Such placement does not eliminate the reporting requirements under s. 383.50(7). When the department is contacted regarding an infant properly surrendered under this section and s. 383.50, the department shall provide instructions to contact a licensed child placing agency and may not take custody of the infant unless reasonable efforts to contact a licensed child placing agency to accept the infant have not been successful.
Safe Haven web based training is available for 1 C.E.U. at no charge to all hospital personnel. The Florida program is one of the most effective programs in the nation. As of this writing 172 newborns have been saved in Florida from the dangers of abandonment and are living in loving, compassionate homes reaching for the world. The course duration is approximately 45 minutes with a certificate of completion issued in your name.
