The Florida Safe Haven Law was enacted in 2000 to prevent the abandonment of newborns. The Safe Haven Law is a safety net that allows parents to leave their unharmed newborns, not more than a week old, at any Safe Haven facility recognized by state law, anonymously and without fear of prosecution.

Any hospital, emergency medical service station, or fire station staffed with full-time emergency medical service technicians, paramedics, or firefighters may accept custody of a newborn infant surrendered by its parents. By the Safe Haven laws, any newborn infant left at one of these full-time staffed facilities shall not be deemed abandoned or subject to reporting and investigation requirements.

https://safehavenlaws.uslegal.com/florida-safe-haven-law/

Clay County Fire Rescue Stations are “A Safe Haven for Newborns”

Newborns less than seven days old can be left at any Clay County full-time staffed fire/EMS stations anonymously and without fear of prosecution. The parent(s) have the absolute right to remain anonymous by the “Safe Haven” law. Any information that may identify the parent(s) will not be shared with anyone. 

The Safe Haven for Newborns nonprofit organization runs the Florida helpline, which provides pregnant girls and women in crisis immediate help. There are many resources available by calling the confidential and multilingual helpline.

Call 877.767.2229 24 hours a day and seven days a week to talk to someone who cares and wants to help.    

For more information, visit https://asafehavenfornewborns.com/.