Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #75FY0102
A Safe Haven for Newborns
Requester:		Nick E. Silverio			Organization:		A Safe Haven for Newborns
Project Title:		A Safe Haven for Newborns			Date Submitted:		1/17/2002 4:50:02 PM
Sponsors:		Rene Garcia
Statewide Interest:
It will save the life of new borns in danger of abandoments and help perserve the health and futures of there mothers.
Recipient:		Nick E. Silverio, CEO			Contact:		Nick E. Silverio
		6801 Northwest 77th Avenue, Suite 404			Contact Phone:		(305) 882-1304 103
		Miami 33166
Counties:		Broward, Dade, {Statewide}
Gov't Entity:			Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit):					Yes
Project Description:
The project is called: "A Safe Haven for Newborns" which focuses on the Infant Abandonment legislation passed in Florida on July 2000 (HB 1901, SB 2080 & SB 2082). Obviously, these bills are not the final answer to the social problems contributing to the cause of infant abandonment but they provide a compassionate approach to saving the lives of infants abandoned by parents who often are young, desperate, in isolation and denial. Living in this isolation they are left to wrestle with problems that they are not psychologically or emotionally equipped to handle. The generally accepted stereotype of a person who abandons a newborn child is that of a teenage, underprivileged mother. However, our research indicates that this is a tragedy that crosses all categories of age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Below are some of the recent infant abandonment heartbreaking tragedies just in South Florida alone: -Police say teen mom put newborn in trash,Homestead, Fl - Dead Baby Found in Backpack in Canal, Tamarac, Fl - Dead Infant Girl Found in Bag, Golden Beach, Fl In the year 2000 more than one-hundred newborn babies have been abandoned across the United States in ditches, toilets, dumpsters, canals, and many other hazardous places. Forty-eight of these children did not survive. As shocking as these numbers are, there is evidence to indicate that the problem still remains largely hidden. No one knows how many children are dying, hidden, far from people who would provide love and care. On September 14, 2001 a precious life was saved. A mother who heard about the Infant Abandonment law brought her baby to the Carol City Fire Rescue Station unharmed - 3 hours old. On August 2, Safe Haven received a call on the helpline regarding a mother desperate about her 14 year old pregnant daughter who was in deep depression and due any day. The girl was making disturbing comments about her baby's life and her own life. The mother was afraid to leave the young girl alone. We were able to refer her to counseling. Only God knows what would have happened without the Safe Haven program. About two weeks later, an individual wearing a Safe Haven t-shirt was approached by her gardener. The gentleman recognized the name on the t-shirt and mentioned that Safe Haven helped his 14 year old daughter for which he would be eternally grateful. "A Safe Haven for Newborns" began in response to the tragedy of newborn abandonments. Yes, the program works but only if everyone knows about the law and how it works, so the focus of "A Safe Haven for Newborns" organization is to rally resources in each community in the State of Florida to help adopt/implement the program. The goal is to have hospitals, fire rescue stations, middle schools, high schools, youth organizations, religious organization of all denominations, community service organizations, civic groups, corporations and the media involved. The outreach of "A Safe Haven for Newborns" is ongoing, extensive and all-inclusive by: A comprehensive approach to publicizing the program through each Florida community. -Publicity Campaign:Print, T.V.,Radio,PSA Video, Bill Boards Advertisement. - Providing a crisis hotline - Developing and distributing materials - Public Access to our website as an information resource. - Coordinating with the department of health, all hospitals and fire rescues stations regarding procedures and policies. - Working with the community at large on an on-going basis to promote and maintain awareness of the program. By using resources already present in the community, "A Safe Haven for Newborns" presents a viable option to a mother or father who may, in a moment of desperation, make a disastrous choice. This is a win situation for all involved: a child's life is saved; a mother or father is saved from a lifetime of guilt and anguish; and the hopes of a family waiting to adopt a child are fulfilled
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
Saving Lives A child's life is saved A mother or father is saved from a lifetime of guilt and anguish The hopes of a family waiting to adopt a child is fulfilled Help the mother -More will be done to help the mother before the baby is born by social work and support services. Program Success -Analyze the depth and success of the program by measuring number - of crisis line calls and their nature - Number of website hits - How many young people heard about the law and know what it is all about. - Compiling, analyzing and publishing statistics by Florida counties with comparisons on a national level.
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:						$250,000
Identify items(s) in the FY 2002-03 Appropriations Bill to be reduced:
Specific Appropriation #:			523
Specific Appropriation Title:			Aide to Local Goverment
Amount to be reduced:			$250,000
Total cost of the project:			$1,000,000
Request has been made to fund:				Operations
What type of match exists for this project?					Local, Private
	Cash Amount:		$26,000		In-Kind Amount:		$120,000
Was this project previously funded by the State?							Yes
	Fiscal Year:		2001		Amount:		$100,000
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?							Yes
	Amount:		$500,000
	Purpose for future year funding:					Recurring Operations
	Will this be an annual request?						Yes
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?							Unknown
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?							Unknown
Is there a documented need for this project?							Yes
	Documentation:		Studies
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?							Yes
	Hearing Body:		Miami-Dade Delagation
	Meeting Date:		10/5/2001