Safe Place for Newborns

Mothers, or someone with their permission, may leave unharmed newborns at a hospital or health care facility that provides urgent care or with an ambulance dispatched in response to a 9-1-1 call. Medical staff will give shelter, health care and aid to the newborn. Safe Place for Newborns provides an anonymous alternative for mothers to safely give up their newborns except if the baby is born in a hospital, has been harmed or is over seven days old.

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Safe place frequently asked questions

What do I do when I decide to relinquish my infant?
What information do I have to provide?
Will they know who I am?
What happens to newborns who are given up?

The Safe Place for Newborns law requires county social service agencies to place infants in foster care to ensure safety. If neither the agency nor hospital has information about your infant’s identity, including who the parents are, the agency will place the newborn for adoption, without attempting to locate parents or other relatives. The agency will select families who have been licensed for child foster care and approved for adoption, based on the newborns’ best interests.
What if I change my mind?

If a court has not yet issued a Termination of Parental Rights for your child, the responsible social service agency will open a child maltreatment investigation. Your decision to give up your newborn using Safe Place for Newborns will not be used against you. The responsible social service agency will verify your identity as the biological mother, assess safety issues your infant may face in your care, and assess the need for child protective services. The local social services agency may not determine that maltreatment has occurred based solely on your decision to use the Safe Place for Newborns law.
What other options do I have besides Safe Place for Newborns?

You can work with an adoption agency or your local social services agency to place your newborn for adoption. You can decide whether you want to have an open adoption (where you maintain some contact with the adoptive parents and your child after the adoption) or a closed adoption (where you have no contact). Adoption resources are listed further down this webpage.

You can also choose to parent your child. Parenting resources are available further down this webpage, including financial assistance programs, parenting education, food and nutrition, and early childhood education and development.
Are there any exceptions?

The Safe Place for Newborns law does not apply if mothers give birth in a hospital, as a hospital delivery creates a vital record, and anonymity would no longer be possible at that point.

If newborns are of American Indian descent, agencies are directed to contact the Minnesota Department of Human Services at 651-431-4661 or DHS.ICWA.MIFPA@state.mn.us.

Safe Place for Newborns resources

Information about the Safe Place law is available in the resources below.

National Safe Haven Alliance Hotline is 1-888-510-BABY (1-888-510-2229); the hotline is available 24/7 and staff can answer questions, provide resources and education, and provide support immediately. The caller’s contact information can be sent to a Minnesota representative for follow-up and more localized support.
National Safe Haven Alliance website
Minnesota Law 145.902
Minnesota Statute 260C.129
Safe Place for Newborns Law fact sheet (PDF)
DHS Bulletin #21-68-16: Overview of Safe Place for Newborns Law

Adoption resources

Learn more about adoption options.

Minnesota Department of Human Services adoption and kinship website
MNAdopt HELP Number: 1-855-670-HELP (1-855-670-4357)
MNAdopt website
MNAdopt resources
MNAdopt Adoption 101

Parenting resources

Thinking about parenting and looking for resources?

Visit the following resources:

Child care; food and nutrition; housing and income — Minnesota Department of Human Services
Bridge to Benefits — Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota
County, tribe and regional offices — Minnesota Department of Human Services
MinnesotaHelp® — Searchable database of local services
Parent Support Outreach Program — Minnesota Department of Human Services
Help Me Grow Minnesota — Minnesota’s early childhood programs and services