Safe Place for Newborns

Colorado:

You can leave your baby,

up to 3 days old, with a hospital worker

at any hospital,

or with a fire fighter at any fire station

in Colorado.

1. If I want to leave my baby with Safe Place for Newborns, 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. Should I tell the people at the hospital anything?

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

7. Where are the hospitals in Colorado?

8. Tell me about about the Crisis Hotline?

9. How can I learn more about Safe Place for Newborns, or how I can help?

10. How is Safe Place for Newborns funded?

If I want to leave my baby with Safe Place for Newborns,      where can I go?

You may go to any hospital in the state of Colorado and leave your baby with a hospital  employee.  You may also leave your baby with a fire worker at a fire station.  (Employees usually wear name badges, either clipped to a pocket, or hanging from their neck.) 

It is important to understand that the new law requires that if you wish to use the program, you must leave your baby with a person, (see law) 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 hospital?

No, you can take your baby to any hospital in Colorado.

If you aren’t sure where the hospitals are in Colorado, scroll down this page and click on the link that says, "Click Here to Find a Hospital in Colorado."  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?

Only the parent of a child can bring a baby to the hospital to leave with new program.

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Should I tell the people at the hospital anything?

The people who receive your baby will probably ask you a few questions.  Each hospital or fire station 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 be put in your baby’s records, and may help answer health questions in the future.

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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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 Children and Family Services who will take care of your child. 

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Where are the hospitals in Colorado?

This link will bring you to a list of Colorado 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 Colorado

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Tell me about the Crisis Line?

The Safe Place for Newborns Telephone is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  If you would like to speak to someone about using the Safe Place for Newborns program, or if you would like to speak with a concerned person who will listen to you without judging, and who has resources available to help:

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 Safe Place for Newborns, or to find out how I can help?

You can contact:

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:  lkrupp@safeplacefornewborns.com

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

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How is Safe Place for Newborns funded?

Safe Place for Newborns is a Colorado not-for-profit organization. It is privately funded by individuals and corporate donations, and grants.  Tax deductible contributions to support this life-saving work can be sent to:
 

Safe Place for Newborns
120 South Sixth Street

Suite 1150

Minneapolis, MN  55402

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18-6-401 - Child abuse.   (9) If a parent is charged with permitting a child to be unreasonably placed in a situation that poses a threat of injury to the child's life or health, pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section, and the child was seventy-two hours old or younger at the time of the alleged offense, it shall be an affirmative defense to such charge that the parent safely, reasonably, and knowingly handed the child over to a firefighter, as defined in section 18-3-201 (1), or to a hospital staff member who engages in the admission, care, or treatment of patients, when such firefighter is at a fire station or such hospital staff member is at a hospital.

19-3-304.5 - Emergency possession of certain abandoned children. (1) If a parent voluntarily delivers a child to a firefighter, as defined in section 18-3-201 (1), C.R.S., or a hospital staff member who engages in the admission, care, or treatment of patients, when such firefighter is at a fire station or such hospital staff member is at a hospital, the firefighter or hospital staff member shall, without a court order, take temporary physical custody of the child if:

   (a) The child is seventy-two hours old or younger; and

   (b) The parent did not express an intent to return for the child.

   (2) If a firefighter or hospital staff member takes temporary physical custody of a child pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the firefighter or hospital staff member shall:

   (a) Perform any act necessary, in accordance with generally accepted standards of professional practice, to protect, preserve, or aid the physical health or safety of the child during the temporary physical custody; and

   (b) Notify a law enforcement officer of the abandonment within twenty-four hours after the abandonment.

   (3) A firefighter or hospital staff member shall incur no civil or criminal liability for any good faith acts or omissions performed pursuant to this section.

   (4) Upon receipt of notice pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, a law enforcement officer shall take the abandoned child into temporary custody pursuant to section 19-3-401.

   (5) Each county department of social services shall maintain and update on a monthly basis a report of the number of children who have been abandoned pursuant to this section. Each county department of social services shall submit such information to the state department of human services.

   (6) The state department of human services shall submit an annual report to the general assembly, beginning January 1, 2001, that compiles the monthly reports, required pursuant to subsection (5) of this section, of the number of children abandoned pursuant to this section.

   (7) The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that a county department of social services shall place an abandoned child with a potential adoptive parent as soon as possible. The general assembly further declares that, as soon as lawfully possible, a county department of social services shall proceed with a motion to terminate the parental rights of a parent who abandons a child.

**Disclaimer:

This representation of Colorado legislation should NOT be considered an OFFICIAL representation.  

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