Published 2004-04-14T00:00:00Z”/>

Scott Jason<br>Assistant News Editor

Though much attention has been given to the Safely Surrendered Baby Law since a Chico State student has been accused of killing her newborn, it remains unclear how the public will be reminded of the option it creates.

State and local agencies disagree over who should take the lead in creating constant awareness of the state law.

The law allows the parent or legal guardian to give a child younger than three days old to a hospital without prosecution, as long as the baby has not been abused or neglected.

Blanca Castro, deputy director of public affairs for the California Department of Social Services, said there was no money budgeted for the law when it went into effect in January 2001, so the department went looking for money to advertise the law. It secured a $1 million grant from First 5 California and a $500,000 grant from the Children’s Trust Fund.

The commission, which is dedicated to child development, receives money from cigarette taxes through Proposition 10.

Castro said the social services department used a New Jersey slogan — “No shame. No blame. No names.” — as its model.

“It was a canned campaign,” she said. “We just took it off the shelf.”

She said brochures and wallet cards were used to spread the word. Radio and television ads were used in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Fresno because they have the largest markets.

She said all the money stayed at the state level.

“There wasn’t enough money to give to the counties,” she said.

The department is seeking sponsorship from pharmaceutical and baby food businesses for continued support to create public awareness.

“We’re really crossing all industries,” she said.

But she said the state can only raise so much awareness.

“The counties have to get involved. The people have to get involved,” Castro said. “This involves everybody.”

Insu Hyams, maternal child health director for Butte County, said the county has no money to bring attention to the law. She said county hospitals took all the steps required by the law, like training its staff, but the state gave no money to the counties.

She said the information provided by the state is good, but the counties need to be involved too.

“Ideally you’d have both,” she said. Her office could only afford to inform other county agencies and non-profit groups about the law and not spend money on advertising, she said.

“A lot of what we do is behind the scenes,” Hyams said. “That’s what we have resources for.”

She said her office is already working on a response to the recent death but is unsure what it will be.

“We don’t want to lose this opportunity to educate the public while we have their attention,” she said.

<em>Scott Jason can be reached at <a href= ‘mailto:[email protected]’>[email protected]</a></em>