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

Placing Your Baby for Adoption in Pennsylvania

Not ready to parent? Safe Haven boxes offer anonymity, but adoption gives you more options, support and control.

Helpful Information

How to Give Baby Up for Adoption in Pennsylvania [Guide and FAQ]

Do Birth Mothers Get Paid for Adoption in Pennsylvania?

Looking for Parents to Adopt My Baby in Pennsylvania

You’re standing at one of the hardest crossroads of your life. Maybe you just gave birth or you’re about to, and you’ve heard that Safe Haven baby boxes let you safely walk away.

If you feel like you can’t parent, but you want to make sure your baby is safe and loved, you still have options. You can choose a path that protects your privacy and gives your child a real chance at a better future.

In this guide, we’ll explain how Safe Haven baby boxes work and how adoption can give you more support and control. If you’re ready to talk to someone, you can call 1-800-236-7846 or fill out our online form.

How Do Safe Haven Baby Boxes Work in Pennsylvania?

Safe Haven baby boxes offer an anonymous way to surrender a newborn without facing criminal charges. You won’t get in trouble for using a baby box as long as your baby is unharmed and under 28 days old.

Here’s how they work:

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.

What happens after you place a baby in the box? The baby is examined by medical staff and then placed into the custody of the local children and youth agency. From there, the baby usually enters foster care. You won’t get to choose the family or receive updates.

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

The fundamental difference between Safe Haven baby boxes and working with an adoption agency comes down to control and support.

You can legally give up a baby anonymously through Safe Haven surrender, but you’re essentially walking away from any involvement in your child’s future. With adoption, you maintain the power to make meaningful choices about your baby’s life.

Here’s what you can get when you choose 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 don’t have to navigate this alone, and you don’t have to give up your ability to influence your baby’s future.

Learn more about placing your baby for adoption in Pennsylvania.

Emergency Adoption Options: How Agencies Can Help Right Now

Even if you’ve already given birth, it’s not too late to make an adoption plan. Agencies are equipped to step in immediately.

Here are trusted agencies in Pennsylvania that can help:

American Adoptions of Pennsylvania (Lewistown, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh): American Adoptions offers a free 24/7 hotline. You’ll be connected to a licensed specialist right away.
Adoptions From The Heart (Wynnewood): This agency provides personalized adoption planning and emotional support.
The Children’s Home and Lemieux Family Center (Pittsburgh): This organization offers full adoption services and support.

Understanding Safe Haven Laws in Pennsylvania: What You Should Know

The Safe Haven law in Pennsylvania allows you to legally and anonymously surrender a newborn who is 28 days old or younger.

Here’s what the law says:

You can bring your baby to any hospital, police officer or EMS provider. You may also place your baby in a Safe Haven baby box, also known as an incubator.
As long as the baby is safe, you will not face legal trouble.
A doctor will examine your baby, and the local child welfare agency will take custody.

Where Is the Closest Safe Haven Baby Box in Pennsylvania?

Searching for where Safe Haven baby boxes are located? Here are the three baby boxes currently available in Pennsylvania:

Lancaster General Hospital (Lancaster)
Penn Highlands Healthcare (State College)
McConnellsburg Volunteer Fire Company (McConnellsburg)

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

Surrendering your baby is a permanent decision. Here’s what happens:

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.

When you surrender a baby through Safe Haven, the state assumes custody. The child becomes eligible for adoption, but you have no input in the selection process. Prospective adoptive families work directly with the state rather than with you.

You won’t get to explain your story. You won’t get to know where your baby goes or if they’re okay. But with adoption, that can be different.

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

When comparing options, you might wonder if adoption is better than Safe Haven. The answer depends on what you envision for you and your baby’s futures.

Here’s what you can give your baby through adoption:

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.

And with open or semi-open adoption, you can stay connected. You can stay in touch through letters, photos, emails, social media, texts, phone calls, video calls or even in-person visits. And someday, you can explain why you made this decision.

What is Open Adoption?

How Private Adoption Agencies Keep Your Information Confidential

Privacy concerns often drive expectant parents toward Safe Haven surrender, but private adoption agencies maintain strict confidentiality while still allowing you to influence your baby’s future.

With Safe Haven, anonymity means giving up all control. But with adoption, you get to choose what information to share, when to share it and with whom. Your privacy is respected while still allowing for the meaningful connections that can benefit everyone involved.

FAQ About Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Pennsylvania

What Makes Safe Haven Boxes Safe for Babies?

They are ventilated, temperature-controlled and trigger silent alarms that notify staff and 911 as soon as a baby is placed inside.

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

Possibly. You’ll need to contact your county’s children and youth agency immediately.

Can Safe Haven Babies Be Adopted?

Possibly. They are usually placed into foster care and may become eligible for adoption, but you won’t choose the family.

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

Yes. The baby must be 28 days old or younger.

What Does a Safe Haven Box Look Like?

It usually has a labeled drop-off door, and inside is a bassinet-style bed.

What You Do Next Matters — An Agency Can Help

You have the power to give your baby a life full of love and opportunity.

You don’t have to go through this alone. We’re here to help.