How Does it Work?
The law saves babies from unsafe abandonment. It says that parents who do not harm their baby will not be prosecuted for abandonment if they hand their newborn to a responsible adult at a Safe Haven location. It gives a desperate parent a responsible alternative. Depending on your state, the law tells you where are the accepted locations that you can leave your baby and up to what age, with no questions asked as long as they are unharmed.
Once you get to one of the accepted locations (Hospitals, Law Enforcement Agencies,Fire Departments etc. depending on your state) You will need to relinquish your baby with one of the staff members at the location, and explain that you are relinquishing your infant to them under the Safe Haven Law
You might be asked to fill out some medical information and other important facts about your newborn, yourself, and the father, mainly for the reason of passing along any and all information that might be important to the adoptive parents for the infant. The person who you are relinquishing your baby to will make sure that the baby is unharmed in any way, and if that is the case, then you will be free to go with no questions asked, and no trouble.
In Illinois
Illinois_Safe_Haven_Law-1Once you have given your baby to a hospital worker, police officer, or firefighter, you are free to leave. You do not have to give your name or answer any questions. No one will try to stop you or follow you unless you tell them you need medical care or counseling.
If you give your baby to workers at a police or fire station, your baby will be taken to the nearest hospital and will get a health exam and any needed medical care. The police will make sure that the baby was not kidnapped. The hospital will call the Department of Children and Family Services. They will contact an adoption agency to start the adoption process.
- Medical history (optional)
If you want, you can fill out forms to give healthcare workers medical information about the baby. When you bring your newborn baby to a safe haven, these forms will be offered to you. You may fill them out there or you may take them with you and return them by mail, or get the forms later and still mail them back. You can also download the medical forms from the Illinois adoption web site called the State Central Registry. All information will be kept confidential. You do not have to give your name, and you can still make sure your baby grows up with a medical history.
- You have 60 days to reclaim your baby
You have about 60 days to reclaim your baby if you left it at a safe place. DCFS will do an investigation and you will have to undergo counseling.
After 60 days, DCFS will file a petition asking the court to terminate your parental responsibilities. You may ask the court to give your parental responsibilities back at a hearing. Your parental responsibilities are terminated when the court enters the adoption order.
