The newborn baby girl, from Brentwood, was turned over to the Safe Surrender program in Los Angeles County. She was taken to a local fire department and then was taken to Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center to be checked for injury or distress.

In cases like these, the Department of Children and Family Services takes the children in and cares for them while alternative living arrangements are sought out. The Safe Surrender Program takes in newborns that are handed over to the hospital or fire station without being held accountable beyond the submission or without facing any charges for their actions in the submission.

The lack of accountability causes some to wonder about the message that this kind of program presents. Often people feel that families are meant to stay together and that mothers should not have children that they aren’t able to take care of themselves. Still, others believe every woman has the right to an option such as the Safe Surrender Program.

Since the program’s start, 49 newborn babies have been entered into the care of the Department of Children and Family Services.