St Joseph Regional Health Network - Safe Haven

If a parent is unable to care for their newborn, they may surrender the baby at any hospital or police station as long as the infant is unharmed and less than 28 days old. No one will ask their name, and they will not be in trouble. Safe Haven is a federal law, but each state has different requirements. In Pennsylvania, a parent can take the baby to any hospital emergency room or police station. they may place the baby in the Safe Haven bassinette at a hospital emergency room and ring the bell if there is one nearby. Some hospitals provide medical forms to share their confidential family medical history. They also may place the baby in the arms of an employee in the emergency department who is wearing a hospital identification badge, or in the arms of a police officer at police stations. No one will ask their name, and they should not voluntarily give it if they want to remain anonymous.