Florida’s Safe Haven Program
Florida’s Safe Haven program is a life-saving initiative designed to provide a safe, legal, and anonymous option for parents who feel they cannot care for their newborns. The program allows parents to surrender their unharmed infants, up to seven days old, at designated Safe Haven locations without facing criminal charges for abandonment.
Safe Haven Locations include fire stations, hospitals, and emergency medical services (EMS) stations.
Parents can surrender their newborns to on-duty personnel at any Safe Haven location. The personnel will ensure the infant is safe and unharmed. No questions are asked, and parents can remain anonymous. The law provides that parents will not face criminal charges for abandonment if the baby is left unharmed at a Safe Haven location. This legal protection encourages parents who are in distress to safely surrender their infants without fear of legal repercussions.
The surrendered infants are given medical care and then placed with a licensed adoption agency. The adoption agency works to find a permanent, loving home for the infant.
Safe Haven Programs Across the U.S.
Safe Haven programs are available in all 50 states, each with specific regulations regarding the age limit of the infant and designated surrender locations. Since the launch of the initiative in 1999, 4,805 babies have been rescued through Safe Haven programs. Just this year alone, 51 babies have been saved so far.
Anyone considering using a Safe Haven program or seeking more information can contact the National Safe Haven Alliance, which provides information and resources about Safe Haven laws in all 50 states. 1-888-510-BABY (2229).
