What is Not Talked About

What is Not Talked About

Safe Haven

The late 1990s saw a surge in infant abandonment, many resulting in the baby’s death. In response to these incidents, a movement emerged to allow parents to relinquish custody of unharmed newborn infants without fear of prosecution. At the time, parents risked criminal prosecution for neglect or abandonment.

The Solution

“Baby Safe Haven” laws or infant abandonment laws were created to remove the potential for prosecution so long as the infant is given unharmed and to proper authorities. Variations to these laws include limits on the infant’s age (ranging from 72 hours to one year) and the places or personnel authorized to accept an infant (e.g., hospital emergency room staff or emergency services personnel [ESP], such as emergency medical technicians, firefighters or law enforcement officers). Some states explicitly guarantee parental anonymity; others require personnel accepting an infant to inquire into the infant’s medical history. ¹ Since the first safe-haven law was enacted in Texas in 1999, all U.S. states, as well as the District of Columbia, have passed safe-haven legislation, and every state has reported lives saved through the existence of these laws.

How prevalent is newborn abandonment still in the United States?

Newborn abandonment remains a concern in the U.S., although exact statistics can be difficult to ascertain due to varying state laws and reporting practices.
According to recent reports, hundreds of infants are abandoned each year across the country. Many of these cases occur shortly after birth, with significant numbers occurring within the first 24 hours.
The National Safe Haven Alliance notes that since the Safe Haven laws were enacted in all 50 states, over 4,000 infants have been safely surrendered, demonstrating that many parents are seeking alternatives to abandonment.
A 2021 study indicated that, on average, approximately three to four infants under the age of one are killed in the U.S. each week, highlighting ongoing concerns about infant safety.
Unfortunately, there is still a lack of comprehensive federal data specifically tracking abandoned newborns. As such, it remains challenging to determine how many infant deaths are directly attributed to abandonment.

Today

Currently, organizations like The National Safe Haven Alliance work with states to promote these laws and increase public awareness that options exist for women facing unexpected pregnancies. These organizations and states work together to save the lives of innocent infants and protect the lives of their mothers. Unfortunately, babies are still illegally and unsafely abandoned, in part because women do not know that they have the option of the Safe Haven Law. It is important that these laws are widely promoted and that women in need are assured that they are not alone.

Furthermore, women also need to be aware of the option of Safe Haven Baby Boxes. This program and these boxes offer a compassionate and secure option for mothers in crisis who are unable to care for their newborns. Designed with innovative safety features and installed on the exterior walls of fire stations and hospitals, each box ensures the safe and anonymous surrender of infants. The exterior door locks automatically when a newborn is placed inside, and an interior door allows medical personnel to promptly and securely retrieve the baby, ensuring immediate care and protection. Safe Haven Baby Boxes are a vital resource, providing a lifeline for mothers and a safe beginning for their newborns.

How can I Help?

Encourage hospitals, medical facilities and other personnel to talk about the Safe Haven Law in your state. Simply print out public material and hang it around your community. Reach out to your local hospitals, where most babies are born, and ask them the following questions:

Is the Safe Haven Law talked about among hospital personnel?
Where’s the closest Safe Haven Baby Box?
Are there visible flyers hung on the walls in or around the Maternity Wards of the hospital?
Are brochures or some form of information regarding the Safe Haven Law easily accessible in the hospital?
What is the protocol for hospital personnel, and what resources and assistance are offered to a distraught mother who feels she cannot take her infant home with her due to unsafe circumstances?

* Use this as a guide for individual state variations of the Safe Haven law.