Abandoned newborn a reminder of safe haven laws

PHOENIX - A day after a newborn was abandoned outside a Phoenix home, city officials are reminding expecting mothers there are many options if they’re thinking of giving up their babies.

Becca Fisk works with the Baby Safe Haven Foundation which spreads the word about the state law, which gives a person three days to safely deliver their newborn with a safe haven provider.

Those include an on-duty firefighter, emergency medical technician, and staff member at a health care institution like a hospital, or a private child welfare agency or church.

Fisk, herself, adopted a Safe Haven baby.

"She is just an amazing addition and blessing to our family,” Fisk said of the three-year-old she named Emily.

“If they can't provide for whatever the reason, and they love their baby, there is a good ending,” Fisk said.

On Wednesday, firefighters demonstrated what they do when a baby is abandoned.

It was Phoenix firefighters who first arrived at the home after its residents found the newborn.

Little Kathleen was named after the road where the home is located and was wrapped in a blanket and left in the front yard.

"I can only imagine how scared she must have felt,” Helen Corrigan said of the mother.

Corrigan fears the mother is alone, afraid and may need medical attention.

She may have not known about the safe have laws, Corrigan said.

"We need to advertise it more and let people know there is a place they can leave a baby with no repercussions,” she said of the Safe Haven laws.