Safe Haven Law

The Tennessee Safe Haven law allows mothers of newborns to surrender unharmed babies to designated facilities within two weeks of birth without fear of being prosecuted. As long as the baby is unharmed and the child is surrendered within two weeks of birth, the mother -- or parents -- will not be prosecuted and is assured of complete confidentiality.

The law was enacted to reduce the number of unsafe abandonment of babies.

As of April 2015, 80 children have been safely surrendered in Tennessee since the law took effect in 2001.

You can find the nearest safe haven location here: Safe Haven Facilities Locator.

Do You Have Questions?

• Call the Secret Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee Help Line at 1-866-699-SAFE. 
• To learn more about Safe Haven, please visit the website of an organization dedicated to spreading information about the Tennessee law.