National Safe Haven Alliance Basic Safe Haven Provider Training

National Safe Haven Alliance 1-888-510-BABY(2229) The National Safe Haven Alliance (NSHA) supports states’ efforts to prevent infanticide and newborn abandonment through education and advocacy of the Safe Haven law. NSHA commits to supporting and assisting a parent in a crisis situation that may be unwilling or unable to care for her newborn, by providing national resources and options including parenting and adoption.

Safe Haven Law The law provides safe options for a parent that may be unable or unwilling to care for their infant. Safe Haven allows a parent to anonymously relinquish an unharmed baby to a Safe Haven provider and the parent will not be prosecuted. This law gives a desperate parent a safe alternative to save the life of a newborn. Safe Haven locations, providers and allowed time to relinquish a newborn differ for states, know your state law. - Safe Haven law is also known as Safe Surrender, Save Abandoned babies, Safe Baby Haven, Baby Moses, Infant abandonment - Allowed time to relinquish a newborn or infant varies from state to state, from 3 days, 7 days, 14 days to 30 days and at most 1 year, please know your state law

Who are Safe Have Providers (Providers vary depending upon state law) Hospital staff member on duty in all states Firefighter and EMT on duty Free standing emergency department staff Church on duty staff or volunteer Participating Adoption Agency staff County Health Deptartment staff

Facilitating Safety for Mother and Newborn Priority is to provide a safe and confidential environment for a mother or parent Provide all options for a parent in crisis situation Facilitate involvement with NSHA staff for further support if needed Utilize resources for a mother or parent, answer all questions Encourage hospital delivery if mother is willing Provide counseling options for mother or parent

When working with a mother in a crisis situation Provide these options 1. Parenting: Discuss what would cause her to feel she is unable to parent this child, provide necessary resources to parent child. 2. Adoption: Utilize adoption experts and resources if a mother is willing to consider this option. 3. Safe Haven: This is a life saving, last resort. Provide information regarding the law, Safe Haven providers, and confidentiality. AZSBH staff are available 24/7 to assist in any crisis situation that may arise.

What do I do if a newborn is relinquished to me? Voluntarily accept newborn, ask if parent is willing to provide information regarding newborn/pregnancy Encourage mother to receive medical evaluation, offer aftercare resource Call 911 for medical evaluation and transport to nearest Emergency Department. Fire and EMS will notify hospital staff of Safe Haven relinquishment upon arrival. The newborn will receive a medical evaluation by the ER physician, be admitted to hospital for further evaluation if needed Hospital Social Worker will notify Department of Child and Family Services of the Safe Haven relinquishment, DCFS will provide direction regarding placement for newborn upon discharge. Newborn relinquished to Fire/EMS outside of hospital has completed Safe Haven relinquishment, if mother does go to the hospital for evaluation, mother and infant admitted separately.

Fire and EMS Safe Haven Response Know your state law, on duty firefighter/EMS staff approved SH provider Respond to 911 call or NSHA crisis response team notification to designated location Voluntarily accept newborn Evaluate newborn and transport to nearest hospital Offer mother medical evaluation and transport to hospital Provide mother/parent opportunity to provide infant information regarding birth or pregnancy, this is not required Provide NSHA hotline for aftercare and counseling resources if needed

In Hospital Delivery and Relinquishment Please offer support and options to mother/parent in crisis pregnancy situation Safe Haven surrender of newborn to a staff person at hospital is approved location in every state in the U.S. Know state law and hospital policy Contact NSHA crisis line for support and resources NSHA provides a comprehensive training for healthcare facilities contact NSHA leadership for more information

In hospital delivery instructions When woman delivers in hospital and states intent for Safe Haven: Discuss all options with mother; parenting, adoption and Safe Haven If mother is discharged prior to newborn discharge complete notifications of Safe Haven relinquishment after mother has left the hospital Provide aftercare instructions to mother Know hospital policy and process regarding change of name on chart for infant, anonymous upon Safe Haven relinquishment Call NSHA with any questions: 1-888-510-2229 - This slide for AZ only, remove or create state specific slide here

NSHA provides: 1. Staff the 24/7 crisis hotline 2. Support for mother/parent with crisis response team 3. Support for state leaders 4. Best practice model nationally 5. Develop and provide community education campaigns 6. Enhance national Safe Haven awareness 7. Support and educate Safe Haven providers 8. Provide option of comprehensive Healthcare System and facility training

National Safe Haven Alliance P.O. Box 12631 Glendale, AZ 85318 Hotline # 1-888-510-BABY(2229) 501(c)3 Nonprofit EIN # 83-0409635 www.nationalsafehavenalliance.org contact@nationalsafehavenalliance.org

Thank you for your effort in preventing infant abandonment.