One-hundred and thirty-seven babies have been relinquished at an Illinois hospital, police station, or firehouse since 2001.
That's when the state's Safe Haven Law went into effect. It's meant to cut down on unsafe infant abandonments. Dr. Anni Reinking is director of prevention services at Children's Home in Peoria.
"It's just a way for caregivers who may not have wanted the baby in the first place, or are finding life is difficult with a newborn, they may be experiencing trauma - that it's a way to keep a baby safe, and give it to a place that will make sure that that the baby stays safe," she said.
The law allows a parent to anonymously hand over an unharmed baby within their first 30 days of life. A training event this Friday at the Jump Trading Simulation and Education Center will help first responders learn how to respond.
"The event is really to focus on health care workers, firefighters, EMTs, people who really engage with caregivers within those first 30 days, that it's not a judgment," she said. "This is an option that this baby can find a loving home with a family that may be able to have more resources, more support, whatever the case may be."
Reinking said that non-judgmental space is important for someone making the difficult decision to give up their child.
"The law exists to save babies right to save babies, in whatever your definition of saving a baby may be, and decreasing the stigma around (it.)," she said. "It's okay, if you don't want to raise your baby. There are people with loving households who will raise who will raise the baby in a safe and loving environment."
Click here to learn more about Friday's event.
