1. National Safe Haven Alliance Basic Safe Haven Provider Training

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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:
- This slide for AZ only, remove or create state specific slide here

11. 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

12. National Safe Haven Alliance
P.O. Box 12631
Glendale, AZ 85318
Hotline # BABY(2229)
501(c)3 Nonprofit EIN #

13. Thank you for your effort in preventing infant abandonment.