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

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Thinking about using a Safe Haven location in Georgia? Learn why adoption through a licensed agency may be a more empowering option.

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You might be wondering if using a Safe Haven baby box is your only option right now.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t see a way forward, it’s important to know you still have choices. Choosing adoption through a licensed agency can be the start of something hopeful for both you and your baby.

In this guide, you’ll learn how Safe Haven baby boxes work in Georgia and how adoption agencies compare. If you’re ready to take the next step, you can call 1-800-236-7846 or fill out our form to connect with an adoption professional.

How Do Safe Haven Baby Boxes Work in Georgia?

You won’t get in trouble for using a baby box. That’s the foundation of Safe Haven laws: to give you a safe, legal way to surrender your baby with no questions asked.

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.

But here’s what you should know: Georgia doesn’t currently have any Safe Haven baby boxes. Instead, you must bring your baby to a staffed location like a hospital, fire station or police station.

Once you surrender your baby, the state assumes custody. This means you won’t get to choose your baby’s adoptive family or receive updates in the future.

What Adoption Agencies Can Offer That Safe Haven Law Can’t

You might be looking for a way to legally give up a baby anonymously, and Safe Haven laws may appear to be your only option. But there’s another path that keeps your identity private and gives you more control over your child’s future.

When you work with an adoption agency, you get:

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.

With Safe Haven, you don’t get to make these choices. Your baby typically goes into foster care and you won’t have a say in where they end up.

Want to understand what adoption could look like for you? Here’s how to give a baby up for adoption in Georgia.

Emergency Adoption Options: How Agencies Can Help Right Now

It’s not too late to choose adoption. Even if you’re at the hospital, at home with your newborn or close to delivery, adoption agencies can provide immediate help.

Here are some private adoption agencies in Georgia:

American Adoptions of Georgia (Atlanta, Decatur, Fayetteville): American Adoptions offers a free, 24/7 hotline for expectant parents. You can speak with an adoption professional right away and make a plan that fits your needs.
An Open Door Adoption Agency (Thomasville): This Christian-based agency offers full adoption planning and support services for women across Georgia.
Georgia AGAPE (Atlanta): Agape focuses on meeting the needs of women in crisis and providing strong families for children through adoption.

Understanding Safe Haven Laws in Georgia: What You Should Know

Under Georgia’s Safe Haven law, you can legally surrender a baby 30 days old or younger without fear of criminal charges.

You must hand the baby to a staff member or volunteer at a hospital, police station or fire station. You won’t be asked for your name, ID or any personal details.

This law is designed to protect you from prosecution, but it also means giving up all rights and having no say in your baby’s future.

Where Is the Closest Safe Haven Baby Box in Georgia?

You may be wondering if there is a Safe Haven baby box near you in Georgia. Right now, there are none in the state.

The closest Safe Haven baby boxes are located in Alabama:

Opelika Fire Department (Opelika, AL)
Dothan Fire Station 1 (Dothan, AL)
Dothan Fire Station 10 (Dothan, AL)
Dothan Fire Station 3 (Dothan, AL)

Understanding the Consequences of Using a Safe Haven Location in Georgia

Surrendering your baby under Safe Haven law is legal, but the outcomes may be different than you expect.

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.

If Safe Haven law doesn’t offer the future you want for you and your baby, you have other options.

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

Many expectant mothers believe adoption is better than Safe Haven because of what it offers:

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.

Adoption allows you to choose a family for your baby — one that’s ready to love and support them fully. And you don’t have to wonder how your baby’s doing. Through open or semi-open adoption, you can stay connected and even share why you made this choice.

What is Open Adoption?

How Private Adoption Agencies Keep Your Information Confidential

If you’re worried about privacy, a licensed agency can help. Your information stays protected throughout the entire adoption process, and you get to make the decisions that matter most.

Even if you feel like no one can know what you’re going through, you’re not alone. You deserve support, and you can get it while still keeping your situation private.

FAQ About Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Georgia

What Makes Safe Haven Boxes Safe for Babies?

They have temperature control, lock automatically and silently alert staff and emergency responders the moment a baby is placed inside.

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

Generally, no. Once a baby is surrendered under Georgia’s Safe Haven law, you cannot get them back.

Can Safe Haven Babies Be Adopted?

Possibly. Safe Haven babies typically enter foster care and become eligible for adoption through the state. You will have no control over who adopts them.

Is There a Safe Haven Law Age Limit in Georgia?

Yes. The baby must be no more than 30 days old.

What Does a Safe Haven Box Look Like?

These boxes usually have a sign that says “Safe Haven Baby Box Drop Off.” The door opens from the outside and has a bassinet-style bed inside.

What You Do Next Matters — An Agency Can Help

You care about your baby’s future. Adoption gives you the chance to shape that future and stay connected if you want to.

We’re here to support you.