The Roseville Fire Department is offering a new service to the community that will provide opportunities for the safe care of infants whose parents are not in a position to care for them at birth. The program is called Safe Surrender and following state legislation, allows parents or guardians of newborns to surrender an infant from birth to three days old and not be penalized or prosecuted.
All Eight (8) Roseville Fire Department Stations have been designated as Safe Surrender Facilities. The personnel at the stations have been oriented to the program and the paramedics are well trained to care for infants and children should an emergency need arise for medical care. Safe Surrender Facilities also include hospital emergency departments.
The surrendering party will be asked to voluntarily complete a medical history form for the child but is not a requirement. A fact of parental/guardian rights will also be given to the party which explains the procedure to ‘reclaim’ the infant within 14 days if they so desire.
The infants will be taken to the hospital by Fire Department personnel and Placer County Health Services will arrange placement in a home. This program is a public service that will provide an alternative solution to those parents or young women who are faced with the difficult decision at the time of a child’s birth and believe that they may not be able to care for the infant. Roseville Fire wants to see these children taken care of, in a warm, safe, loving environment and therefore is committed to the Safe Surrender Program and the parents or new mothers in the community.
