Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Tennessee: Why Adoption Is the Better Choice

Your Guide to Adoption Agencies in Tennessee

Learn how Safe Haven baby boxes work in Tennessee and why working with an adoption agency can give you more support and control.

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If you’re thinking about using a Safe Haven baby box in Tennessee, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed, scared and unsure what to do next. When you’re in crisis and don’t feel ready to parent, it can seem like the only way forward.

Before you decide anything, it helps to know there’s another option. Adoption through a licensed agency gives you real support and control over your baby’s future.

In this guide, we’ll explain how Safe Haven baby boxes work in Tennessee and why private adoption offers more opportunities. If you want to speak with someone now, you can call 1-800-346-7846 or fill out our contact form.

How Do Safe Haven Baby Boxes Work in Tennessee?

Safe Haven baby boxes are typically built into the side of fire stations. They’re designed to protect newborns while keeping your identity private.

Here’s what happens after you place a baby in the box:

At a designated safe haven baby box location, the birth mother can open the exterior access door, place her newborn inside the bassinet, close the door and walk away. The door automatically locks to keep the child safe.

As soon as the door is shut, an alarm is activated that notifies on-site emergency personnel that a baby has been placed inside and a second internal alarm is triggered as a backup to ensure no delay in response.

Trained staff responds immediately, retrieve the baby from the box, and provide medical attention. From there, custody is transferred to the state.

You won’t get in trouble for using a baby box in Tennessee if your baby is two weeks old or younger. However, once your baby is taken into state custody, you won’t have any contact. You won’t know who raises them, and you won’t receive updates.

If you want to have a say in your baby’s future, you may want to consider a different option.

What Adoption Agencies Can Offer That Safe Haven Baby Boxes Can’t

Yes, you can legally give up a baby anonymously through adoption. And unlike with Safe Haven, you can choose your baby’s future.

Here’s what you can get when you move forward with private adoption:

Financial support for housing, groceries, medical care and more.
Adoption planning that puts you in control of the process.
The power to choose your baby’s adoptive family.
Free, 24/7 counseling and guidance from licensed professionals.
Open or semi-open adoption options to stay connected.

You may want to select the family who raises your child. With adoption, you can pick a home with the values, lifestyle and future you imagine for them. But With a Safe Haven box, none of that is possible.

Learn how to give a baby up for adoption in Tennessee.

Emergency Adoption Options: How Agencies Can Help Right Now

Even if you’ve already given birth or are close to your due date, it’s not too late. Agencies can provide immediate support and help you make a plan that works.

American Adoptions: American Adoptions operates a 24/7 hotline where you can get immediate support. The agency’s experienced team understands that every situation is unique and can adapt their services to meet your specific timeline and needs.
Adoption Assistance Inc. (Murfreesboro): This agency offers practical and emotional support for expectant mothers in crisis. Their staff provides comprehensive counseling services and can help you navigate the adoption process.
Small World Adoption (Mount Juliet): Small World Adoption focuses on creating positive adoption experiences for all parties involved. The agency emphasizes that it’s your right to make informed choices about your baby’s future.
Hope Adoption Agency (Cookeville): This local agency provides personal, confidential support to women considering adoption. The staff members understand that adoption decisions often happen under stressful circumstances.

Understanding Safe Haven Laws in Tennessee: What You Should Know

The Safe Haven law in Tennessee allows a parent to surrender a newborn (up to 14 days old) at a designated facility without legal consequences.

The facility must contact the Department of Children’s Services within 24 hours.
A notice is published weekly for four weeks to inform the father and allow the mother to revoke consent.
If no one comes forward in 30 days, this is considered abandonment, and adoption proceedings begin.

The law protects you from prosecution, but once the surrender is complete, you cannot choose the adoptive family or receive updates.

Where Is the Closest Safe Haven Baby Box in Tennessee?

Looking for where Safe Haven baby boxes are located? Here are a few locations in Tennessee:

Hendersonville Fire Department Station 5 (Hendersonville)
Atoka Fire Department Station 1 (Atoka)
Knoxville Fire Station 17 (Knoxville)
Chattanooga Fire Station 6 (Chattanooga)
Springfield Fire Station 2 (Springfield)

Understanding the Consequences of Using a Baby Box or Safe Haven Location in Tennessee

Here’s what happens after you use a baby box:

You forfeit all decision making.
The state makes all future decisions about the child’s care, including who will adopt them.
The child enters the state foster care system.
The child may spend weeks, months or even years in foster care before being placed with a permanent family.
Your child’s file is sealed.
This means you will have no way of knowing who adopted your child, you won’t receive updates on your child and they may never know the story behind why they were placed.

Once you place your baby in a Safe Haven baby box or surrender them at a designated location, they immediately enter the state foster care system. The Department of Children’s Services assumes custody and places your child with a foster family while they work through the legal process of terminating parental rights.

Your child may be adopted through the state system, but you won’t have any input into who adopts them or what kind of life they’ll have. The adoptive family will be chosen by state social workers based on availability and state criteria, not on your preferences or values.

You Can Provide a Brighter Future for Your Baby — With the Right Agency

Is adoption better than Safe Haven? If you want to protect your privacy and create a meaningful future for your baby, the answer is yes.

With adoption, you can give your baby:

Your child can grow up in a secure, structured home environment filled with consistency, routine and care.

Adoptive parents go through a rigorous process to be approved to adopt. They’ve waited for the opportunity to love and raise a child, and your baby becomes the center of their world.

Your choice can open doors for your child that might otherwise have been closed. They may one day attend college, travel, receive quality medical care and engage in extracurriculars like music, sports and art.

If you have an open or semi-open adoption, you can receive updates and even visit your baby in person. You can share your love, your story and be part of your baby’s life in a way Safe Haven doesn’t allow.

What is Open Adoption?

How Private Adoption Agencies Keep Your Information Confidential

Worried about someone finding out? Many expectant mothers worry about privacy and confidentiality when considering their options.

While Safe Haven baby boxes offer complete anonymity, private adoption agencies can provide confidentiality while still giving you control over your baby’s future. You can choose how much information to share and with whom, and you can set boundaries about future contact that work for your situation.

FAQ About Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Tennessee

What Makes Safe Haven Boxes Safe for Babies?

They have temperature control, ventilation and lock automatically. A silent alarm alerts staff and 911 immediately.

Can You Get Your Baby Back After Safe Haven in Tennessee?

Possibly. You have up to 30 days after a public notice is posted to revoke the surrender. After that, your rights are terminated.

Can Safe Haven Babies Be Adopted?

Yes. But they first enter foster care. You won’t be part of the process or know who adopts them.

Is There a Safe Haven Baby Box Age Limit in Tennessee?

Yes. The baby must be 14 days old or younger.

What Does a Safe Haven Box Look Like?

It’s a labeled drop box built into the wall of a fire station. Inside is a bassinet-style bed where the baby is safely placed.

What You Do Next Matters — An Agency Can Help

You want your baby to have a great life. You want to feel at peace with your decision.

Adoption gives you that.

We’re here to help. Reach out today.