If you have a newborn that you’re unable to care for, you can bring your baby to a designated safe place with no questions asked. The Safe Haven law, also known as the Baby Moses law, gives parents who are unable to care for their child a safe and legal choice to leave their infant with an employee at a designated safe place such as a hospital, fire station, free-standing emergency centers or emergency medical services (EMS) station.
ALL BEXAR COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT NO. 3 FIRE STATIONS ARE DESIGNATED SAFE HAVEN DROP-OFF LOCATIONS.
Simple steps to safely surrender a newborn (60 days or younger), with compassion and privacy:
- Your baby must be 60 days old or younger and unharmed and safe.
- You may take your baby to any hospital, fire station, emergency medical services (EMS) station in Texas, or placed in a newborn safety device located inside the designated emergency infant care (DEIC) provider facility.
- You must give your baby to an employee at one of these safe places and tell this person that you want to leave your baby at a Safe Haven.
- You may be asked to provide family or medical history to make sure that your baby receives the care they need.
Remember, if you leave your unharmed infant at a Safe Haven, you will not be prosecuted for abandonment or neglect.
The Safe Haven law, also known as Baby Moses or Safe Surrender laws, was first introduced in Texas in 1999 under Texas Fam. Code § 262.301(1).
These laws provide a compassionate, safe, confidential, and legal alternative to infant abandonment. They aim to prevent infant deaths and offer options for parents who are unable or unwilling to care for their newborns. Once the child is surrendered, all parental rights are relinquished.
For more information, visit BabyMosesHotline.com or call the Texas Baby Moses Hotline at (800) 392-3352.
