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

Placing Your Baby for Adoption in Louisiana

If you want to maintain your privacy but still know how your baby's doing after surrendering them, you may want to consider adoption.

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If you’re facing a situation where you can’t parent, you’re likely looking for a safe, immediate solution.

Maybe you’ve heard of a Safe Haven baby box in Louisiana. These boxes offer a way to walk away quietly. But before you decide, it’s worth knowing about another option, one that gives you more control and support.

In this guide, you’ll learn how Safe Haven baby boxes work in Louisiana and how they compare to private adoption. If you’re ready to talk to someone now, you can call 1-800-236-7846 or fill out our form.

How Do Safe Haven Baby Boxes Work in Louisiana?

You won’t get in trouble for using a baby box in Louisiana. These devices allow you to safely and anonymously surrender a newborn at any time, no questions asked.

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.

These boxes are installed at fire stations or hospitals. Once the door closes, it locks automatically and alerts staff inside to retrieve the baby. From there, the state takes over.

You won’t know what happens next. Your baby will enter foster care, and you won’t be involved in where they go or who raises them.

Learn how you can choose your baby’s future instead.

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

You can still legally give up a baby anonymously through a licensed adoption agency. But with adoption, you also 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.

When you use a Safe Haven box, you give up control. There’s no way to know where your baby ends up, and no way to share your story.

If you want your baby to be raised in a safe, loving family chosen by you, then adoption may be the better path.

Learn more about how adoption works in Louisiana.

Emergency Adoption Options: How Agencies Can Help Right Now

Even if you’ve already given birth or are just days from your due date, it’s not too late. Adoption agencies can step in immediately and offer real help.

Here are agencies ready to support you now:

American Adoptions: This national agency offers 24/7 access to licensed professionals. You can get immediate help with one phone call.
St. Elizabeth Foundation (Baton Rouge): St. Elizabeth Foundation offers personalized adoption planning, counseling and compassionate support throughout the process.
Open Arms Adoption Services Inc. (Shreveport): This agency provides full-service private adoption planning with attention to confidentiality.

Understanding Safe Haven Laws in Louisiana: What You Should Know

Louisiana’s Safe Haven law allows you to surrender a baby anonymously, but only under specific conditions:

The baby must be 60 days old or younger.
You may leave the baby in a baby box or at a hospital, public health unit, medical clinic, manned fire or police station or an accredited child advocacy center.
You may also call 911 to have an EMS provider meet you and transport the child.

If you surrender your baby to staff, you’ll be asked for medical history and given information about how to reach the Department of Children and Family Services if you have questions. You’ll also receive details about the counseling services available to you and your rights to file a claim or participate in the voluntary adoption registry.

Once the baby is surrendered, the department will take custody within 12 hours. They will begin working to identify and locate any non-relinquishing parent. If no parent steps forward, the court may terminate parental rights within 45 days.

Where Is the Closest Safe Haven Baby Box in Louisiana?

Wondering where Safe Haven baby boxes are located? There is currently one Safe Haven baby box in Louisiana:

Covington Fire Department (Covington)

If you’re searching for a Safe Haven baby box near you, this is the only location in the state.

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

It’s important to understand what happens next:

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 location, you lose all say. There’s no contact, no updates and no way to explain why you made the choice you did.

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

Is adoption better than Safe Haven? It can be.

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 don’t have to say goodbye. If you’d like, you can see your child grow up. You can explain your decision in your own words once they’re old enough to understand.

What is Open Adoption?

How Private Adoption Agencies Keep Your Information Confidential

Your privacy matters. When you choose private adoption, your identity and details stay protected. You can stay anonymous while still shaping your baby’s future.

And unlike Safe Haven, this doesn’t mean walking away. You can stay in touch through open or semi-open adoption if you choose.

FAQ About Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Louisiana

What Makes Safe Haven Boxes Safe for Babies?

Safe Haven baby boxes have temperature control, ventilation and an automatic lock. They also trigger a silent alarm to alert staff and notify 911.

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

Possibly. You must file a motion within 30 days and prove it’s in the child’s best interest. You may also need to reimburse medical costs.

Can Safe Haven Babies Be Adopted?

Possibly. They often enter foster care and may be adopted later through the state. You don’t get a say in who adopts.

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

Yes. The baby must be 60 days old or younger.

What Does a Safe Haven Box Look Like?

It’s usually labeled “Safe Haven Baby Box Drop Off.” The door opens from outside and has a bassinet-like bed inside.

What You Do Next Matters — An Agency Can Help

You have the chance to give your baby a better life. And you don’t have to do it alone.

We’re here to help you explore your options and get the support you need.