Colorado

We are dedicated to saving the lives of precious newborns, WHATEVER IT TAKES, as every life is precious.

We assist the pregnant woman or mother in a compassionate way to receive the help and support she needs.

REMEMBER, It is the Law-the baby MUST be given to a staff member at a Safe Haven facility. Tell them you are leaving the baby with “Safe Haven”.

ANONYMITY -We respect and protect the callers right to anonymity at all times.

MEDICAL HISTORY- Asking for and the mother providing medical history information is optional.

Revised Statute 19-3-304.5

Infant’s Age

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 19-3-304.5

A child who is 72 hours old or younger may be relinquished.

Who May Relinquish the Infant

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 19-3-304.5

The parent of the child may voluntarily relinquish the child.

Who May Receive the Infant

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 19-3-304.5

A child may be delivered to:

• A firefighter

• A hospital staff member who engages in the admission, care, or treatment of patients

Responsibilities of the Safe Haven Provider

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 19-3-304.5

When a firefighter is at a fire station or a hospital staff member is at a hospital, the firefighter or hospital staff member

shall, without a court order, take temporary physical custody of the child if:

• The child is 72 hours old or younger.

• The parent did not express an intent to return for the child.

If a firefighter or hospital staff member takes temporary physical custody of a child, he or she shall:

• Perform any act necessary, in accordance with generally accepted standards of professional practice,to protect, preserve, or aid the physical health or safety of the child during the temporary physical custody

• Notify a law enforcement officer and the county department of social services of the abandonment within 24 hours after the abandonment

Immunity for the Provider

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 19-3-304.5

A firefighter or hospital staff member shall incur no civil or criminal liability for any good-faith acts or omissions performed pursuant to this section.

Protection for Relinquishing Parent

Citation: Rev. Stat. §§ 18-6-401(9): 19-3-304.5

A parent who utilizes the provisions of this section shall not, for that reason alone, be found to be responsible in a confirmed report of abuse or neglect.

If a parent is charged with permitting a child to be unreasonably placed in a situation that poses a threat of injury to the child’s life or health, and the child was 72 hours old or younger at the time of the alleged offense, it shall be an affirmative defense to such charge that the parent safely, reasonably, and knowingly handed the child over to a  firefighter or to a hospital staff member who engages in the admission, care, or treatment of patients, when such firefighter is at a fire station or such hospital staff member is at a hospital.

Effect on Parental Rights

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 19-3-304.5

A county department of social services shall:

•Place an abandoned child with a potential adoptive parent as soon as possible

• Proceed with a motion to terminate the parental rights of a parent who abandons a child