In Pennsylvania, the state senate approved legislation to expand its safe haven laws, allowing urgent care (UC) clinics to serve as locations where parents can surrender unharmed newborns. Many states have safe haven laws that include drop off points at hospitals and healthcare facilities, but Pennsylvania would be only the second to name UC clinics specifically. Minnesota is the only other state that specifies “urgent care” rather than just “health facility.” However, in Minnesota, the majority of UC locations are operated by hospital health systems. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services estimates that since 2003, 50 babies were surrendered under the state’s safe haven law, according to a senate announcement.
Secure locations: Safe haven laws ensure that if the baby is unharmed and not a victim of a crime, parents will not face any penalties. The various state laws typically allow for surrendering the baby at police stations and fire stations as well as hospitals or health facilities that are open and have staff present.