From Deseret News archives:
30-second ads aim to save babies
New spots reach out to troubled young mothers
The 30-second public service announcements, which debuted Tuesday at Primary Children's Medical Center, spotlight Utah's safe-haven law, which allows birth parents to anonymously relinquish their newborn baby without the fear of legal ramifications.
"No police. No questions," advises the ads' tagline before directing viewers to a 24-hour hotline and Web site for additional information.
Sen. Patrice Arent, D-Murray, sponsored the Utah law as a member of the state House of Representatives. The law, she said, has saved several babies since it went into effect in May 2001 but could save many more if more birth parents were aware of it.
"The problem is, those girls are not home reading the Utah code," Arent said. "They don't know about this law."
Under the law, birth parents can leave their babies, 72 hours old or younger, at any hospital that is open 24 hours. The state Division of Child and Family Services then takes custody of the child and begins expedited adoption proceedings.
The anonymity is important, Arent said, because oftentimes scared, young girls do not want anyone to know about their pregnancy and take drastic steps to avoid detection.
"Instead, they panic and the baby is born, and in some very sad situations," she said.
In recent years, Utah law enforcers have investigated cases where newborns have been left in a dresser drawer, an airport bathroom and at a miniature golf course.
Senate President John Valentine, also a sponsor of the 2001 legislation, said the new public service announcements are "an attempt to get at the actual people who make the decision . . . the young girl who's scared."
The three spots, which also include one with a girl holding a baby who finds hope in the eyes of a passing 8-year-old girl, were produced with donated time and money. The actual cost of the ads was only $14,000, half of which came from Intermountain Healthcare and the Utah Hospital Association and the other half from Richter7, a local advertising agency, said Richter7 CEO Scott Rockwood.
The PSAs would have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to make, but Hollywood directors, producers and talent willingly donated their time, he said.
"One thing I've learned about this business is they have a lot of energy and are willing to donate time to causes they truly believe in," Rockwood said.
Forty-seven states now have similar infant relinquishment laws. For more information, visit www.utahsafehaven.org or call 1-866-694-2229, a 24-service provided by the National Newborn Lifeline Network.
E-mail: awelling@desnews.com
