Baby Safe Haven Guide

For parents in crisis, the safe surrender baby laws in all 50 states can protect them and their child. Safe haven adoption, or adoption instead of a safe haven surrender, can be a better option for everyone involved.

Placing a baby for adoption through a licensed agency provides:

• A safe process with trusted professionals.
• Complete control over the process.
• The ability to choose the perfect family for your baby.
• Financial support for rent and bills.
• Your child with a loving home and a future full of opportunities.

You can contact us today to learn more and get connected to a trusted adoption agency to safely place your child with a hopeful adoptive family.

In the meantime. Read how adoption is a wonderful alternative that creates a better future for you and your child, and get answers to frequently asked questions about Safe Haven.

What is a Safe Haven for Babies?

Many people wonder, “What is a Safe Haven baby relinquishment? How does it work? Where can you find a Safe Haven for unwanted babies? Is it legal?”

A Safe Haven location is a building (usually an emergency services building like a hospital, fire station or police station) where a parent can safely, legally, permanently and anonymously surrender a child within a specific time of their birth. 

These buildings are specifically registered as Safe Havens and are prepared to receive surrendered babies. They will either be equipped with a special baby box or have staff trained to receive surrendered babies.

What’s the Difference Between Safe Haven and Safe Haven Adoption?

When a baby is surrendered at a Safe Haven location, that child enters foster care and has little to no information about his or her biological history. Safe Haven drop-off is rare despite the many women who feel they’re no longer able to care for their infants. 

Safe Haven baby surrender isn’t common simply because there is another (better) option:

For this reason (and for many other reasons), contacting an adoption agency is a better option than leaving your baby at a Safe Haven location. 

Remember: Adoption agencies are available 24/7. They’re free, confidential and can even provide you with financial assistance. 

Interested in adopting a surrendered baby? Contact an adoption agency or your state’s foster care department to learn more about Baby Moses adoption programs.

Safe Haven FAQ

What Locations Are Registered as a Safe Haven?

Any building bearing a sign that it is a registered Safe Haven, and as such, is a place where a parent can legally, safely and anonymously surrender a child and be protected by Safe Haven laws. Most commonly, Safe Havens are found at:

• Fire stations
• Police stations
• Hospitals

However, not every emergency location is a registered Safe Haven! Use this tool to find your nearest Safe Haven location. If you are unable to find a registered Safe Haven, contact us to get immediate support.

Does Every State Have Baby Safe Haven Laws?

Yes! All 50 states have laws, sometimes called Baby Moses laws or Safe Haven laws, protecting parents who surrender children to registered Safe Haven baby safe locations.

Parents who abandon their children anywhere that is not a Safe Haven location could be criminally liable for child endangerment, abandonment, or neglect.

But at a registered Safe Haven location, it is legal to surrender a child, no questions asked and with no criminal liability. However, time and again, children are still abandoned in unsafe locations, usually because parents did not know that Safe Havens exist.

Why Do Safe Haven Places for Babies Exist?

So, what does baby Safe Haven mean for parents who are unable to care for their new infant? Safe Haven locations allow parents to surrender a child anonymously and legally while ensuring the safety of their baby. 

This allows parents in crisis to hopefully secure a better future for themselves and their child without facing legal repercussions.

Remember: If you are unable to find a Safe Haven location in your area, you can always contact us online for support and to get connected to a licensed adoption agency. 

Who Can Use a Local Safe Haven for Abandoned Babies?

New parents who are struggling can use a Safe Haven to safely, legally and anonymously surrender a child.

Your individual situation is unique. However, you may choose a safe baby surrender if you:

If you are facing one or more of the situations listed above, an option beneficial to everyone involved is working with a private adoption agency instead of leaving him or her at a Safe Haven location. 

Learn more about the support and services licensed adoption agencies provide and the better future adoption creates for you and your child. 

How Does Safe Haven Baby Surrender Work?        

When a parent surrenders their child at a Safe Haven location, they must go inside the Safe Haven location and surrender their child to an employee.

To better understand how Safe Haven locations work in your state, read more about your state’s laws here.

Which States Have Safe Haven Baby Boxes?

Although the Safe Haven states for babies include all 50 states in the U.S., currently,  11 states have baby Safe Haven box locations:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Florida
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee

If your state does not have Safe Haven locations for baby drop-off boxes, you’ll need to go inside any building registered as a Safe Haven location and surrender the baby directly to an employee. 

Remember: If you are surrendering your baby, do not leave him or her outside or unattended!

Interested in adopting Safe Surrender babies? Adoption does not occur at the Safe Haven location itself, as they aren’t licensed to complete adoptions. For this, you’ll need to contact your local foster care department.

How Can I Adopt A Safe Surrender Baby?

Many hopeful parents are interested in adopting the babies surrendered at a Safe Haven. Adoption does not occur directly through the Safe Haven location — they’re not licensed to complete child placements. If you’re interested in pursuing a Safe Haven baby box adoption, you’ll need to contact your local foster care department.

Is There a Safe Haven Adoption Center That I Can Adopt a Child From?

No. There is no Safe Haven adoption agency that specifically places infants surrendered at Safe Haven locations.

Children who were surrendered at Safe Haven locations become wards of the state (i.e., they enter foster care), so if you are interested in the adoption of surrendered babies, you’ll need to contact your state’s foster care department.

Most infants are placed for adoption by their biological mothers through private adoption agencies, so if you wish to adopt an infant, contact an adoption agency.

Do People Really Bring Babies to a Safe Haven Location if They Need to Surrender the Infant?

Not often, but yes. Women who are in the midst of a crisis may need to legally and anonymously surrender their baby safely, so they may choose to do so at a Safe Haven location.

However, most women choose to place their infants for adoption through private adoption agencies. This free and confidential option allows them to choose their child’s family, to receive free services like counseling, health care and financial support, and to stay in touch with their child through an open adoption.

How Old Does a Baby Have to Be in Order to Be Surrendered at a Safe Haven Location?

Every state has laws regarding the age of infants that may be surrendered at Safe Haven locations, ranging from 72 hours to 1 year of age. Check your state’s eligibility requirements before taking your baby to a Safe Haven location.

If you need to surrender your baby, and he or she is too old for your state’s Safe Haven policies (or if you haven’t given birth yet), you’ll need to contact a private adoption agency immediately. They’re available 24/7.

How Do I Contact a Safe Haven Location?

Whether you need to report an abandoned infant or you need to surrender your newborn, you can start with the Safe Haven baby website or by calling the baby Safe Haven hotline here.

Thinking about placing your baby for adoption? Want to adopt a child?