State Superior Court Judge Dennis O’Brien put it best: “This is a family tragedy, a tragedy all around.’’

He was speaking in Monmouth County court during the bail hearing for 18-year-old Jada McClain, the Neptune woman police say hid her pregnancy, delivered her baby alone in a bathroom, suffocated the child and then, with the baby’s father, disposed of the newborn’s body in a dumpster.

As the judge spoke last week, McClain wept, her family wept and her friends wept.

It is indeed heart-breaking all around.

And, it is a reminder that we must do more to alert teens, women and families to all of the options that are available, especially the New Jersey Safe Haven program.

As stated on its website, njsafehaven.org:

“New Jersey’s Safe Haven Infant Protection Act allows parents or their representatives to anonymously surrender a newborn baby at any hospital emergency room, police station, fire station, ambulance, first aid, and rescue squads that are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If the baby appears to be 30 days old or less, and free of any abuse or neglect, the baby should be accepted with no questions asked.”

The state Department of Children and Families will ensure the infant is placed with a foster or pre-adoptive home.

For further information, go to the website or call 1-877-839-2339.

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