Be Our Guest / Sherry Foushee

April is Safe Haven Awareness Month

The month of April has a special meaning to the National Safe Haven Alliance (NSHA), which is a non-profit working to promote the existence of Safe Baby Haven Laws across the country. April is known as Safe Haven Awareness Month in all 50 states, as well as Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico.

The Safe Haven Law has saved 4,776 newborns since the first law was created in 1999 in Texas. Because of the growing number of infant deaths due to infanticide and newborn abandonment, this law that provides a safe alternative to save newborns and help their mothers passed in every state within 10 years.

The law that was enacted in Indiana in 2001 states that a mother in crisis who is unable or unwilling to care for her newborn can safely and anonymously hand her unharmed baby (30 days or younger) to a Safe Haven provider at a hospital, staffed fire station or law enforcement facility, or call 911 for Emergency Medical Services to respond to a location for surrender. Infants must be handed to staff at the stated location.

The National Safe Haven Alliance always provides assistance to all mothers/parents and infants in need of support. When faced with an unexpected or crisis pregnancy situation, a mother can feel frightened and alone. Our team is available 24/7 to work alongside this mother and provide support and safe options.

In many of these cases, mothers are considering surrendering their infants due to a lack of family support, socioeconomic challenges, inadequate daycare options or temporary challenges making ends meet. Our goal is to walk with a mother hand-in-hand to provide the support she so desperately needs while supporting her choice to parent her infant with compassion, empathy and kindness in mind.

With support of donors, NSHA is able to assist these mothers in need, while possibly keeping mothers and infants together at times. Through our three-tiered communication model (parenting, adoption and Safe Haven), our team creates a safe and open dialogue that is required when facing a crisis. During this communication process, NSHA will work with the mother to meet her immediate needs by researching the support available in her community.

Please help us celebrate the lives of special newborns saved as we continue our mission. Spreading awareness of this life-saving law is so very necessary to make sure that those in crisis know they have a source of support and help.

We at National Safe Haven Alliance will continue this life saving mission until there is no need.
 

(Sherry Foushee is a member of St. Bartholomew Parish in Columbus and is the Indiana representative for National Safe Haven Alliance. Mothers in need can call or text 888-510-2229, here a crisis response team is available for confidential help 24/7 to provide safe options for her and her baby. For more information on NSHA, go to www.nationalsafehavenalliance.org.) †