What is the Safe Delivery of Newborns law?
To end the tragedy of unwanted newborns being hidden and left to die in dumpsters and elsewhere, Michigan lawmakers passed a law, effective January 1, 2001, to make it legal for a parent to surrender their infant in a safe and anonymous manner. The newborn must be surrendered to an emergency service provider, which includes a hospital, fire department, police station, EMT or paramedic. A criminal investigation will not be initiated solely based on a newborn being surrendered.
How is AAI involved?
Because Adoption Associates has established excellent relationships with many hospitals around Michigan, we are often the first ones they call. AAI receives a phone call from a hospital where either the mother has surrendered the baby or the baby was brought by another emergency service provider. AAI responds immediately by identifying a family (usually the longest waiting family that qualifies) and works closely with the hospital to ensure proper paperwork and legal protocol have been followed. The law requires that the surrender must be made of an unharmed infant within 72 hours of the birth. In most cases the adoptive family is notified and a linked meeting with an AAI caseworker is scheduled for the following day. The caseworker will present all known information and then make a trip with the family to the hospital. AAI will introduce the family to the baby where they can visit with the baby while waiting for discharge.
To date, AAI has placed 26 infants into loving homes just hours after being born through the Safe Delivery of Newborns law. We respect birth mothers who are able to lovingly make this safe choice for their newborns and honored to be a part of blessing families with these little ones.
