S184

07 Jan: Sweeney Bill To Enhance Public Notification Of Safe Haven Law Approved

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney which would require the State Department of Children and Families to expand community outreach in order to better educate the New Jersey public about the State’s Safe Haven Law was approved by the Assembly today by a vote of 76-0, receiving final legislative approval.

“New Jersey’s Safe Haven law has been one of the great success stories in terms of reducing child abandonment and giving children a chance to grow up in a safe, healthy environment,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “However, despite the fact that the law has reduced illegal child abandonment by more than 50 percent since its inception, many parents remain unaware of the law. We need to better promote the Safe Haven option for parents who feel that they have nowhere else to go.”

24 Jan: Sweeney Bill To Expand ‘Safe Haven’ Program Clears Senate Health, Human Services And Senior Citizens Committee

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney which would expand the number of Safe Haven centers, and make Safe Haven program information available by dialing 2-1-1, a national exchange for human services information, was approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.

“According to statistics from the Department of Children and Families, since 2000 the lives of 33 babies have been saved with the help of the Safe Haven program,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “When a parent is unable or unwilling to care for a child, the chances that the child will be abused or neglected can only increase. This legislation is about saving our children from abandonment, abuse and neglect, and all of the physical and emotional damage that come along with those actions. By making the Safe Haven centers more accessible, we would be working to save lives.”