The Muckleshoot Charitable fund recently awarded a $10,000 check to Safe Place for Newborns of Washington and the Washington Fire Chiefs to support the critical infant safety program.

The grant will bring the two organizations closer to their $28,000 goal, which will provide 4,000 signs to approved locations throughout the state.

“The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe has long understood the importance of being proactive in meeting the needs of its community, and we are pleased to be able to fund such important and innovative programs,” said Sen. Claudia Kauffman in a letter included with the award.

Mike Brown, executive director of the Washington Fire Chiefs, explained: “The Washington Fire Chiefs wants anybody who is in a position to even consider abandoning an infant, to know that their local Fire Department has a ‘Safe Place’ to ensure the infants health and safety.”

The WFC partnered with Safe Place for Newborns of Washington in 2002 to pass legislation ESSB 5236 making it legal to leave an unharmed newborn baby at any hospital or manned fire station up to 3 days of age. The WFC’s published sample implementation Resolutions, Standard Operating Procedure and New Born Medical History Questionnaires for compliance with this new law.

In 2009, the Fire Chiefs and Safe Place for Newborns partnered again and passed SB 5318 amending RCW 13.34.360. The amendment will help identify all facilities that are authorized to accept a relinquished baby. The legislation expanded locations to include rural health care facilities as legal drop-off points and specified signage to be placed on all facilities accepting relinquished babies. In the down economy, there were no funds to pay for all the signage.

For more information or to donate to the cause, visit www.washingtonfirechiefs.org.

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About Safe Place for Newborns of Washington:

Safe Place for Newborns of Washington is a non-profit all volunteer organization that was formed with the mission of saving the lives of newborns in danger of abandonment and to help preserve the health and future of their mothers.

About the Washington Fire Chiefs:

The Washington Fire Chiefs is an incorporated nonprofit association. Its mission is to be a source of information and education to its members and to take a lead role in influencing issues affecting the fire service.

About the Muckleshoot Charitable Fund:

The Muckleshoot Charitable Fund distributes approximately $1 million per a year.