EBNHC Baby Safe Haven

December 17, 2010, East Boston, MA—The Satellite Emergency Facility of the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (EBNHC) is now officially designated a Baby Safe Haven. The Safe Haven Act of Massachusetts allows a parent facing the last resort to legally surrender a newborn infant 7 days old or younger at a hospital, police station, or manned fire station without criminal prosecution.

EBNHC supports healthy families and works to keep families intact. Unfortunately, in some instances new parents are unable or unwilling to care for an infant and need an immediate solution to a crisis situation. The Safe Haven Act provides a viable alternative to the unsafe abandonment of a newborn that may lead to injury or death.

“We must provide this service to our community,” said Jack Cradock, President and CEO of EBNHC. “This is about saving lives by offering help to those who feel they have no other choice but to relinquish a newborn for its own safety.”

Martha Nencioli, Administrative Director of the Women’s Health and Obstetrics Department, was responsible for initiating the Baby Safe Haven designation process at EBNHC. “The Safe Haven designation is important because it allows the health center to offer a safe and compassionate solution to parents who are in a desperate situation,” she said.

The Safe Haven Act is an amendment to Chapter 119 of the Massachusetts General Laws, section 39.5. The law went into effect on October 29, 2004. More information can be found at www.babysafehaven.com or by calling 866-814-SAFE.

The East Boston Neighborhood Health Center has been a vital part of the community for 40 years, providing easily accessible, high-quality health care to all who live and work in East Boston and the surrounding communities of Chelsea, Revere, Everett, and Winthrop. EBNHC handles 300,000 patient visits per year—more than any other ambulatory care center in New England.