Community Involvement & Programs
Safe Haven for Newborn Infants
A person is not guilty of abuse of a child solely for leaving an unharmed newborn infant with a safe haven provider. If a parent voluntarily delivers the parent's newborn infant to a safe haven provider, the safe haven provider shall take custody of the newborn infant if both of the following are true:
- The parent did not express intent to return for the newborn infant.
- The safe haven provider reasonably believes that the child is a newborn infant not more than 72 hours old.
The safe haven provider shall report receipt of a newborn infant to child protective services as soon as practicable after taking custody of the newborn infant.
A parent or agent of a parent who leaves a newborn infant with a safe haven provider may remain anonymous, and the safe haven provider shall not require the parent to answer any questions. A safe haven provider shall offer written information about information and referral organizations.
A safe haven provider who receives a newborn infant pursuant to this section is not liable for any civil or other damages for any act or omission by the safe haven provider in maintaining custody of the newborn infant if the safe haven provider acts in good faith without gross negligence.
The infant may be surrendered to an emergency service provider. ''Emergency service provider'' means a uniformed or otherwise identified employee or contractor of a fire department, hospital, or police station when that individual is inside the premises and on duty. Emergency service provider also includes a paramedic or an emergency medical technician when either of those individuals is responding to a 911 emergency call.
By surrendering the newborn, the parent is releasing the newborn to a child-placing agency to be placed for adoption.
The parent has 28 days after surrendering the newborn to petition the court to regain custody of the newborn. After the 28-day period to petition for custody elapses, there will be a hearing to determine and terminate parental rights.
There will be public notice of this hearing, and the notice will not contain the parent's name. The parent will not receive personal notice of this hearing.