Since 2001, 41 babies have been given away by their parents under the Illinois Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act.

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has declared today, April 8, 2008, an awareness day for the state statute.

In Pekin... signs are posted at the city's fire stations.

The signs are mandated by a 2007 amendment to Illinois' safe haven law.

A fire station, police station or hospital are legal places a parent can hand over a newborn that is up to seven days old.

The baby must be given to a staff person on duty.

Pekin Fire Chief Chuck Lauss said, "They bring that baby in and relinquish custody of that baby. No questions asked. Completely anonymously. They have 72 hours to come back to that facility and find out where that baby has gone to."

The Mayor of Pekin, David Tebben, said, "We're looking to reach out and say we understand there's sometimes some difficulty in life. We're here to help. Come to us, we're here to help."

Pekin city officials say posting the signs is important because since 2001, 49 babies have been illegally abandoned... and half of those babies have died.

The City of Peoria also is posting signs outside of the city's fire stations.