N.J. Admin. Code § 3A:18-1.10

Current through Register Vol. 57, No. 1, January 6, 2025

Section 3A:18-1.10 - Action taken by the Division upon receipt of a referral of a safe haven infant

(a) The hotline representative shall assign each referral of a safe haven infant an immediate response.

(b) Upon receipt of a referral from the Safe Haven for Infants Hotline pursuant to N.J.A.C. 3A:18-1.4(c)2i, the Division representative shall:

1. Notify the Division of State Police that a referral of a safe haven infant has been received, and work cooperatively with that agency to enable the State Police to make a thorough search of all listings of missing children in accordance with 3A:18-1.7(d), pursuant to N.J.S.A. 30:4C-15.7c, to determine if the infant has been reported as a missing child;

2. Notify the police department that is responsible for the jurisdiction in which the hospital is located that a referral of a safe haven infant has been received, unless the infant was brought first to, and left at, that police station;

3. Assume care, custody and control of the infant as an emergency removal without court order or parental consent pursuant to N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.29 and 8.30, and thereby petition the Family Court, by no later than two court days, for an order which shall include:

i. Custody of the infant; and

ii. Authorization to perform deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) profiling and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other medical testing of the infant;

4. Comply with the provisions of the court order;

5. Arrange appropriate placement when the infant is medically cleared for discharge from the hospital, placing the infant in a selected adoptive home, if a suitable home is available which can meet the infant's needs;

6. Request a copy of the infant's medical chart, including any written identifying and non-identifying information about the safe haven infant recorded therein pursuant to N.J.A.C. 3A:18-1.9;

7. Request a copy of the police, fire department, or ambulance incident report, if the safe haven infant was brought to a police station, fire department, or ambulance before being transported to the hospital; and

8. File for a termination of parental rights in accordance with N.J.A.C. 3A:21, Termination of Parental Rights, and pursuant to N.J.S.A. 30:4C-15.1.b(3), no later than 21 days after assuming care, custody and control of the infant, if no parent or relative has come forward by that date who is willing and able to care for the infant, except as specified at N.J.A.C. 3A:18-1.12.

N.J. Admin. Code § 3A:18-1.10

Administrative Change, 49 N.J.R. 98a.

Amended and recodified from 3A:18-1.11 by 50 N.J.R. 133(b), effective 1/2/2018