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Home My WebLink About3.4 SafelySurrenderBabyLaw CITY CLERK File # D[3lß]ß1-r7lrl5l AGENDA STATEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: February 1, 2005 SUBJECT; Safely Surrendered Baby Law SB 1368 Presentation and Consideration of Adoption of a ResolutioD Authorizing the City of Dublin to Participate in the Safe Haven Program for New Borns Report Prepared by Joni Pattillo, Assistant City Manager ATTACHMENT; I) Proposed Resolution 2) Procedures for Accepting a Newborn under the California Safe Haven Law RECOMMENDATI~ } I) Receive report given by the Alameda County Fire Department. 2) Adopt resolution establishing the Fire Stations within the City as approved locations where newborns less than 72 hours of age can be dropped off. FINANCIAL STATEMENT; Nominal, the Safe Surrender kits and signage are given to the City by the County. There will be a small training/familiarization component that can be completed through the normal fire department training schedule. DESCRIPTION; The Alameda County Fire Department will be making a presentation tonight on the Safely Surrendered Baby Law SB 1368 and making a request that the City Council consider adopting a resolution to have the City of Dublin participate in the Safe Haven Program for new borns. Background; The Safely Surrendered Baby Law (also known as the Safe Haven or Newborn Abandonment Law) went into effect January I, 2001 and authorizes the Alameda County Board or Supervisors to designate locations where newborns (less than 72 hours of age) may be conltdentially surrendered, by a parent or guardian having lawful custody of the infant, without fear of criminal prosecution. The use of fire stations as drop off locations for newborns is part of a statewide effort to end tragic consequences of infant abandonment. ___________________________________~~~MHW..___________-____________________________~..~~_____________________ COPIES TO: ITEM NO.--M. \D[)~ t Until now, County protocol only allowed for Safe Haven surrender at Hospital Emergency Departments. However, in light of recent tragedies involving abandoned infants the Alameda County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution on January 22,2005, which approves all Alameda County Fire Stations as California Safe Havens. It is now up to each City within tbe County to pass a local resolution authorizing the Fire Stations within the individual City to become a designated location for surrendering newborns. The Alameda County Social Services Agency in conjunction with the Alameda County Fire Chiefs Association and Senator Perata's staff have been working collaborativcly to identify and coordinate the implementation of the program county-wide. This included development of standardized procedllres, public education materials and outreach. The Alameda County Fire Chiefs Association has developed a guideline that outlines the steps to be taken by fire personnel at the stations when a newborn is surrendered to them (see attached). The County Social Services Agency wil1 provide the City the appropriate standardized signage for the fire stations, the newborn safe surrender kits, and coordinate with City's public information staff in developing a public awareness and media campaign. Once the Safe Haven program is adopted and fully operational, infants will be able to be left with fire personnel at any fire station in the City. These infants wi1l be assessed and transported to the appropriate receiving facility where custody wi1l be transferred to appropriate hospital personnel. A medical questionnaire and information about the program will be provided to the surrendering guardian. The City's responsibility will be to accept the child, provide any necessary medical intervention and arrange for immediate transfer to the appropriate hospital, providing the responsible surrendering person with the newhorn medical questionnaire, fact sheet and coded wrist bracelet. The fiscal impact of the proposal is negligible, as the Safe Surrender kits and signage are given to tl1e City by the County_ There will be a small training/familiarization component that can be completed through the normal fire department training schedule. Recommendation It is recommended that the City Council receive the presentation by Alameda County Fire Department and consider the adoption of the resolution establishing the Fire Stations within the City as approved locations where newborns less than 72 hours of age can be dropped off. d, DÖ d- tuò')... RESOLUTION NO. - 05 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN, CALIFORNIA ..****_.;\0 AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF DUBLIN TO PARTICIPA IE IN THE SAFE HAVEN PROGRAM FOR NEWBORNS WHEREAS, the State Legislature has enacted Health and Safety Code § 1255_7 which allows any person having lawful custody of a minor child 72 hours old or younger to surrender physical custody of the child to an employee at a location designated by the Board of Supervisors; and WHEREAS, the City of Dublin and Alameda County Fire Department is desirous of having its Fire Station Nos. 16, 17, and 18 so designated; and WHEREAS, such designation is for the benefit of children and the community because it will provide a safe haven to newborns who are 72 hours old or younger. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN, CALIFORNIA, AS FOLLOWS: SECTION I. That Fire Station Nos. 16, 17 and 18 of the City of Dublin and Alameda County Fire Department may be designated by Alameda County as locations which may accept newborns that are 72 hours old or younger ITom a person who has lawful custody of the child. SECTION 2. The City Manager is authorized to request that the Board of Supervisors for Alameda County designate the City of Dublin's Fire Station Nos. 16, 17 and 18 in the City of Dublin as locations, which may accept newborns who are 72 hours old or younger from a person who has lawful custody of the child. SECTION 3. The City Manager is authorized to execute any documents which are necessary to effectuate this designation and which are consistent with this Resolution. SECTION 4. That the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution; shall cause the same to be entered among the original resolutions of said City; and shall note an action of the passage and adoption thereof in the records of the proceedings of the City Council of said City in the minutes of the meeting at which the same is passed and adopted. PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this I" day of February 2005, by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk , K:/G/2-I-.05/reso-safe baby (Item 3.4) ATTACHMENT I 3/4 d.-I-O~ d- ub ?- ALAMEDA COUNTY FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION PROCEDURES FOR ACCEPTING A NEWBORN UNDER THE CALIFORNIA SAFE HAVEN LAW The Alameda County Fire Chiefs Association in an effort to provide a standardized approach to receiving a newborn has developed this guideline jÒr Deparlments within the County. PROCEDURES; 1. Welcome the parent or person surrendering the infant. Do not be judgmental (this is an emotional and difficult time for the person). 2. Contact dispatch to place the Company on a medical at the station, communicate the nature of the call, and request a code 2 Transport ambulance responsc. 3. Attempt to asccrtain that the infant is under 72 hours or younger. Accept the infant (even ifit appear~' older tllan 72 hours) and begin to assess for any medical needs, mling out a County Patient Care Report. If there is evidence of abuse, request the appropriate law enforcement agency response. 4. Locate and open the Newborn Safe Surrender Kit. Hand the surrendering person the inner business reply mail envclope containing the voluntary Safe Haven medical questionnaire, an information sheet and a copy ofthe coded, confidential bracelet. 5. Place the smaller, coded, confidential ankle bracelet on the infant and record the code on the County Patient Care Report. 6. Once on scene, the Transport paramedics shall assume custody of the infant, initiate base hospital contact, and continue to assess and provide for any medical needs of the infant. 7. The infant will then be transported to the nearest receiving hospital where custody and pertinent paperwork will be given to the hospital. 8. After the ncwborn has been transported, thc station can go back in service and complete and submit the County Patient Care Report through the Department's normal channels to the County. G:W)MIN\Chìof\CHIEF\04\So.fe I Iaven\ALCO Fire Station protocol.dm:: ATTACHMENT 2