(a) The Virgin Islands recognizes that abandonment can cause injury and death to newborn infants, giving rise to potential civil or criminal liability to parents recognize that they are unable to safely parent. This subchapter is intended to provide a mechanism for a newborn infant to be relinquished, utilizing Virgin Islands Safe Haven Law, to a safe environment and for the parents of the unharmed newborn infant to remain anonymous if they choose and to avoid civil or criminal liability for the act of relinquishing the newborn infant. Relinquishing a newborn infant using the procedures in this subchapter can reduce the chance of injury to a newborn infant and provide a safer alternative.
(b) The Department of Human Services shall implement a public information campaign on Virgin Islands Safe Haven Law to encourage parents to safely relinquish a newborn infant under the procedures in this subchapter, or to choose a traditional adoption plan, instead of abandoning a newborn infant if a traditional adoption plan is not practicable. This campaign must also include guidance, support, and resources to assist individuals who are considering relinquishing a newborn infant to be able to gain the ability to parent a newborn infant themselves without placing the newborn infant in harm’s way.