Safe Place for Newborns

Arizona:

You can leave your baby,

up to 3 days old,

with an employee

at any hospital or fire-station in Arizona

- no questions asked.

1. If I want to leave my baby where can I go?

2. Do I have to take my baby to the closest hospital?

3. How long can I wait before I take my baby to the hospital?

4. Do I have to take my baby to the hospital, or can someone else?

5. What will the people at the hospital ask me?  Do I have to leave my name?

6. Is it true that the police will not be called?

7. What happens to my baby after I leave the hospital?

8. What if I change my mind and want my baby back?

9. Where are the hospitals in Arizona?

10. Tell me about about the Crisis Hotline?

11. How can I learn more about Tucson Safe Baby (of Arizona) or Safe Place for Newborns (of Minnesota) and what I can do to help?

12. Arizona Law

If I want to leave my baby, where can I go?

You may go to any hospital, fire station in the state of Arizona and leave your baby with an employee.  Hospital employees usually wear name badges, either clipped to a pocket, or hanging from their neck  Fire rescue station personnel are usually in uniform. You can leave your baby with an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), a private welfare agency, an adoption agency, or a church.  Tell the person with whom you are leaving your baby that you want to leave your newborn with A Safe Haven for Newborns.

It is important to understand that you must leave your baby with a person, and not, for example, in a bathroom at a hospital.  Newborn children need lots of tender care. 

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Do I have to take my baby to the closest place?

No, you can take your baby to  any of the places mentioned in the question above.  

If you aren’t sure where the hospitals are in Arizona, scroll down this page and click on the link that says, "Click Here to Find a Hospital in Arizona."  This link will bring you to a list of hospitals, organized by city.  Click on the city that you wish to go to to see a list of hospitals in that city.  The list includes the address and telephone number of each hospital. 

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How long can I wait before I take my baby to the hospital?

Your baby can be up to 3 days old.

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Do I have to take my baby to the hospital, or can I ask someone else?

According to the new law, a parent or agent (click to see law) of a parent can leave their newborn at a hospital.  An agent of the parent means someone who is acting with your permission, can bring your baby to leave with the safe haven program. 

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What will the people at the hospital ask me?  Do I have to leave my name?

First of all, it's important for you to know that you don't have to tell the people at the hospital your name, (click to see law) or anything else.  It is also important to understand that no one is going to try to find out who you are.  

The people at the hospital will probably ask you a few questions.  Remember, no one is trying to trap you, or discover your identity.  Each hospital will do things a little differently, but most will offer you the opportunity to provide some health information.  This background, called a "medical history," will be incredibly valuable for your baby as he or she grows up.  If you like, you could download a Medical History questionnaire from this website and fill it out before you take your baby in. This information will not be made public, but will be put in your baby’s records, and may help answer health questions in the future.

The hospital may also offer you a packet of information, and explain a few things to you.  Again, no one is trying to stop you, but rather provide you with information that may be helpful to you.  Whatever information you provide to the person receiving your child will be kept strictly confidential.  Confidentiality is as important to the person receiving your child as it is to you.

When you're scared, it can be hard to believe that there are people out there who care and want to help, but you know what?  There are people out there who care and want to help you. 

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Is it true that the police will not be called?

If you leave your  baby, less than 3 days old with a hospital employee at a hospital, the police will not be called.  The new law says that "A person is not guilty of abuse of a child..." (click to read law) if you use the program. 

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What happens to my baby after I leave the hospital?

The hospital will take care of any medical needs your baby may have.  They will then contact its County Social Services. Social Services will place your baby in foster care, and after a period of time has passed (that time varies, depending on the county, but usually a few weeks) your baby will be eligible to be adopted. So many wonderful people are ready and waiting to receive a child into their home through adoption.

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What if I change my mind and want my baby back?

This question brings up an important point.  When you relinquish your baby at a hospital, you are also releasing your parental rights. That is why the hospital contacts its County Social Services department - Social Services will obtain custody of the baby, and place the child in foster care. After a period of time that ranges from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the County, the child will be adopted.

If you change your mind, and want to speak with someone about the possibility of regaining custody, you can contact the Social Services of the county where you brought your baby.  If you don’t know what county the hospital is in, you can look it up on the Web, or simply call the hospital and ask.  

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Where are the hospitals in Arizona?

This link will bring you to a list of Arizona cities that have hospitals, with links to the address and telephone number of the hospital(s).  Use your web browser "back" button to return to this site.

Hospitals in Arizona

Many of these hospitals have 24 hour, seven day a week telephone numbers.

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Tell me about the Crisis Line?

The Telephone Crisis lines are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  If you would like to speak with someone, call:

Toll Free 1-877-440-2229

If you are interested in learning more about the program, please see the contact information listed below.

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Who can I contact to learn more information about Tucson Safe Baby of Arizona or Safe Place for Newborns (Minnesota), or to find out how I can help?

In Arizona, you can contact Tucson Safe Baby at:

Web page:  www.tucsonsafebaby.org

Or you can contact: 

Safe Haven Task Force
PMB #202
5830 W. Thunderbird Rd., Ste. B8
Glendale, AZ 85306

www.safehavenaz.org

To contact Safe Place for Newborns:

Laure Krupp,

Executive Director, Safe Place for Newborns

120 South Sixth Street

Suite 1150

Minneapolis, MN  55402

(612) 317-2895

(612) 317-2899 fax

Email:  safeplace@safeplacefornewborns.com

Web Page: http://www.safeplacefornewborns.com

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(Amended) Section 8.526: Child welfare: reporting requirements

… 5. The number of newborn infants delivered to safe haven providers pursuant to section 13-3623.01

(Amended) 13-3623.01. Safe haven for newborn infants; definitions

A. A person is not guilty of abuse of a child pursuant to section 13-3623, Subsection B solely for leaving an unharmed newborn infant with a safe haven provider.

B. If a parent or agent of 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:

1. The parent did not express an intent to return for the newborn infant.

2. The safe haven provider reasonably believes that the child is a newborn infant.

C. The safe haven provider shall report receipt of a newborn infant to child protective services of the department of economic security as soon as practicable after taking custody of the newborn infant. Child protective services shall include the number of newborn infants delivered to safe haven providers pursuant to section 8-526.

D. 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 or agent to answer any questions. A safe haven provider shall offer written information about information and referral organizations.

E. 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.

F. This section does not preclude the prosecution of the person for any offense based on any act not covered by this section.

G. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Newborn infant" means an infant who is seventy-two hours old or younger.

2. "Safe haven provider" means any of the following:

(a) A firefighter who is on duty.

(b) An emergency medical technician who is on duty.

(c) A staff member at a health care institution that is classified by the department of health services pursuant to section 36-405 as a hospital or an outpatient treatment center.

(d) A staff member at any of the following that posts a public notice that it is willing to accept a newborn infant pursuant to this section:

(i) A private child welfare agency licensed pursuant to title 8, chapter 5, article 1.

(ii) An adoption agency licensed pursuant to section 8-126.

(iii) A church. For purposes of this item, "church" means a building that is erected or converted for use as a church, where services are regularly convened, that is used primarily for religious worship and schooling and that a reasonable person would conclude is a church by reason of design, signs or architectural or other features.

**Disclaimer:

This partial representation of Arizona law MUST NOT be considered an OFFICIAL representation.

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Map will direct you to Safe Haven laws in other states.