In 1996, Amy Grossberg and Brian Peterson checked into a cheap hotel in Delaware. Hours later, they left behind a tragedy. They claimed their newborn was stillborn, but investigators later discovered the baby had been left in a dumpster.  

Recently, a 21-year-old University of Kentucky student, Laken Snelling, was taken into custody after her deceased newborn was found in a trash bag in her closet. The child’s cause of death is still being investigated, but she faces charges including concealing the birth of an infant and abuse of a corpse. 

Both cases made national headlines. Both broke hearts. And both demanded, how do we stop this from happening again? 

In 1999, Texas passed the first Safe Haven law. Since then, all 50 states and Puerto Rico have followed. It gave desperate parents an option that didn’t exist before — they could safely, legally, and anonymously leave their baby at a hospital, fire station, or other designated site. If the baby is unharmed, the parent dropping the infant off will not be prosecuted for abandonment or neglect. 

According to the National Safe Haven Alliance, more than 5,000 babies have been safely surrendered. 

Safe Haven laws remind us that when parents feel they have no choice, there’s still a safe way to protect their baby’s life.  

“Safe Haven laws remind us that when parents feel they have no choice, there’s still a safe way to protect their baby’s life.” 

The Positive Impact of Safe Haven Laws 

The bottom line, Safe Haven laws save lives. They give parents in crisis a way to surrender their baby without facing criminal charges. 

In Pennsylvania, a mother put her newborn in a Safe Haven Baby Box that was installed at Lancaster General Hospital. This was the second baby surrendered at that location since the box was offered in 2023. That child is now on track to being adopted into a permanent family. 

For parents who feel scared, overwhelmed, or totally unprepared, this option can feel like a lifeline. Some are teenagers who hide their pregnancies. Others are older women who feel they’re already stretched too thin. In Illinois, parents who have used the law ranged in age from as young as teens to as old as 41. Regardless of their circumstance, Safe Haven Boxes lets them walk away knowing their baby will receive care. 

Another strength of Safe Haven Laws is the anonymity they offer to parents surrendering their baby. In small towns especially, a mom might be afraid of being recognized if she walks into a hospital to surrender a newborn. Designed with this in mind, Baby Boxes ensure privacy, which for some women, that’s the only way they’ll follow through. 

It’s important to note that Baby Boxes are not offered in all states. 

Safe Haven Laws Aren’t Perfect 

As good as they are, Safe Haven laws aren’t a perfect solution to abortion or child abandonment. Yes, they help prevent abortions by assuring moms with an alternative, but they are, by nature, reactive an emergency intervention. They can’t offer help until after the baby is born, which means they don’t protect women during pregnancy. And they don’t connect moms to medical care, counseling, or to community support they desperately need before that moment of surrender. 

And when a baby is handed over or placed in a Baby Box, medical history is often lost. Families who later adopt these children may have no idea if the baby has a hereditary condition or special medical needs. That gap makes it harder to give the child proper care down the road. 

Another complication, Safe Haven laws can leave fathers completely out of the picture. Critics argue that one parent—most often the mother—can make a life-altering decision without the father even knowing the child exists. Some states have tried to balance this with “putative father registries,” but not every state does. 

For a woman hiding her pregnancy out of fear or shame, that quick deposit into a box can feel like her only option. What she might really need is someone to look her in the eye and say, you’re not in this alone. 

Safe Haven laws are a safety net. But moms need a safety net long before birth. 

“Safe Haven laws are a safety net. But moms need a safety net long before birth.” 

How to Improve Safe Haven Laws  

The goal of Safe Haven Laws is to save lives. To do this we must work to make legislation consistent across all states. There are a variety of ways communities and lawmakers can strengthen Safe Haven Laws: 

• Standardize state laws so parents aren’t confused by different rules. 

• Widen the age limit. In some states, parents have only a few days to surrender a baby. Others allow weeks. Giving at least 30 days provides more breathing room for a parent who is still in shock or denial.  

• Expand locations. Include college health clinics, counseling centers, even places of worship where staff are trained to respond. Availability and access are essential for moms. 

• Add Baby Boxes in all states so every option is made available to save the baby, especially if a Baby Box is the only way a mom is willing to surrender her newborn. 

• Raise awareness. Many moms who abandon babies illegally never knew Safe Haven was an option. Police and fire departments in Chicago have tried to change that by handing out pamphlets explaining the law. Designating marketing dollars for public information campaigns on the existence of Safe Haven Laws could literally save lives. 

Safe Haven Laws Don’t Solve Every Crisis 

Safe Haven Laws don’t stop every tragedy. They don’t solve every crisis. But they do save lives. Every story of a baby surrendered safely reminds us that these laws exist for those times when parents feel they’ve run out of choices. 

Still, we can’t stop there. As a society, we need to go further. Moms need more than a law that lets them walk away. They need support long before they give birth, and they need a community to remind them that they’re not defined by fear, shame, or mistakes. 

Safe Haven laws are a safety net. And like any net, they catch those who fall. But what if fewer moms fell in the first place? What if we built programs of care so strong that abandoning a baby, even safely, didn’t feel necessary? That’s where Human Coalition comes in. 

Human Coalition, Rescuing Babies Before They’re Born 

Human Coalition offers a true outreach that rescues children by helping moms—while they’re still pregnant, longing for support, and when they need it most.  

When a mom reaches out to us—whether she’s planning to abort, unsure what to do, or terrified to carry her baby—we connect her to real help. Our contact center, clinics, and telecare teams provide medical care, counseling, and long-term support. Our Continuum of Care program helps expecting moms stabilize their lives with housing, job support, and parenting resources. 

Safe Haven laws take action after birth. Human Coalition acts before and after—meeting moms in their most difficult hours and walking with them toward hope. 

If the Church and organizations like Human Coalition continue to spread awareness and strengthen support systems, fewer women will ever feel like Safe Haven or abortion are their only options. And more babies will grow up not just safe, but thriving. 

Why Safe Haven Laws Still Matter 

Safe Haven laws aren’t a full solution—but they are a part of the life-saving safety net. Every baby surrendered safely represents a child spared from tragedy and a parent who made a brave, loving choice. But awareness and support for moms must grow. By improving these laws and pairing them with holistic, Christ-like care, we can make abortion and abandonment unthinkable and unnecessary.