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

Placing Your Baby for Adoption in West Virginia

When you use a baby box, you lose all say in who adopts them. Private adoption agencies offer something completely different.

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How to Give a Baby Up for Adoption in West Virginia

Maybe you’ve just given birth or your due date is days away, and you’re thinking about using a Safe Haven baby box.

If you’re thinking about surrendering your baby, it’s because you care. You want them to be safe. You want them to have a better life. The truth is, you still have time to make a plan that does all of that and more.

In this guide, we’ll explain how Safe Haven baby boxes work in West Virginia and how adoption can give you more control, support and peace of mind. If you’re in crisis and want someone to talk to, call 1-800-236-7846 or contact us online.

How Do Safe Haven Baby Boxes Work in West Virginia?

A Safe Haven baby box is a secure, temperature-controlled drop-off site usually located at a fire station or hospital. These boxes are accessible 24/7, and no one will ask your name or follow you afterward.

Here’s how to use one:

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 as long as your baby is safe and within the legal age limit. However, it’s important to understand what happens after you place a baby in the box.

Once you close that door, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources assumes custody of your child. Your baby will be taken to a hospital for medical evaluation then typically placed in the state foster care system. You will have no say in who cares for your child or who might eventually adopt them.

For many parents, this loss of control and involvement in their child’s future feels unsettling. Private adoption agencies offer a fundamentally different and more empowering approach.

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

If you want to legally give up a baby anonymously, you can still do that through a licensed adoption agency. The difference? With adoption, you don’t lose the chance to shape your baby’s future.

Here’s what you get through a licensed adoption agency:

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 a Safe Haven box, your baby is placed in foster care. You don’t get to choose their family or get updates about how they’re doing. Adoption gives you that control.

Ready to learn more? Here’s how adoption works in West Virginia.

Emergency Adoption Options: How Agencies Can Help Right Now

Even if you’ve already given birth or are very close to your due date, adoption is still an option. Agencies can provide immediate support and help you create a plan today.

Here are some adoption agencies that support expectant parents in West Virginia:

American Adoptions: You can call their 24/7 hotline anytime. A licensed professional will walk you through your options with zero pressure. Their experienced team can quickly coordinate medical care, legal support and help you review adoptive family profiles.
Adoption Services Inc. (Berkeley Springs): This local agency offers private, confidential adoption planning. Staff members work closely with expectant parents to ensure you receive the support you need to make informed decisions about your baby’s future.

Understanding Safe Haven Laws in West Virginia: What You Should Know

Under Safe Haven law in West Virginia, a child who is younger than 30 days old may be relinquished by his or her parent. The child may be left at a baby box, hospital, healthcare facility or a fire department that has been designated a safe-surrender site under state law.

When you surrender your baby:

No one is allowed to ask your name or identify you in court
You are protected from prosecution if you act in good faith
The state takes custody and may place the child with a private agency
The baby will be eligible for adoption as an abandoned child

This law protects your privacy but removes your ability to influence what happens next.

Where Is the Closest Safe Haven Baby Box in West Virginia?

If you’re wondering where Safe Haven baby boxes are located, here are the current options:

Marshall County EMS (Moundsville)
St. Albans Fire Department Central Station (St. Albans)
Morgantown Fire Department Station 2 (Morgantown)
Wheeling Fire Department Station 5 (Wheeling)

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

Once you use a Safe Haven baby box, 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.

Unlike adoption, where you choose your child’s future family, babies surrendered through Safe Haven locations enter the state system. You lose all legal rights and future contact with your child. The anonymity that protects you legally also means you cannot establish a relationship with your child.

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

Is adoption better than Safe Haven? In many cases, yes. Adoption gives your baby a chance to grow up safe, loved and surrounded by opportunity — and you get to be part of that story.

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.

With open or semi-open adoption, you don’t have to say goodbye. You can see your child grow, get updates and maybe even visit. And one day, you can explain to them why you made this decision.

What is Open Adoption?

How Private Adoption Agencies Keep Your Information Confidential

One concern many expectant parents have is privacy. Private adoption agencies understand this need and maintain strict confidentiality protocols while still allowing you to shape your baby’s future.

Your personal information is protected throughout the adoption process. You control what information you share with the adoptive family and when. You can choose to meet them in person, communicate through the agency or stay private while still being involved in the selection process.

FAQ About Safe Haven Baby Boxes in West Virginia

What Makes Safe Haven Boxes Safe for Babies?

They include temperature control, ventilation, auto-locking doors and a silent alarm that alerts staff inside and 911 services.

Can You Get Your Baby Back After Safe Haven in West Virginia?

Generally, no. Once the baby is surrendered, the Department of Health and Human Resources assumes custody, and the court process begins.

Can Safe Haven Babies Be Adopted?

Possibly. The child enters foster care and may later become eligible for adoption. You won’t have a say in who adopts them.

Is There a Safe Haven Baby Box Age Limit in West Virginia?

Yes. The baby must be 30 days old or younger.

What Does a Safe Haven Box Look Like?

It typically says “Safe Haven Baby Box Drop Off.” The door opens from outside. Inside, there’s a bassinet-style bed.

What You Do Next Matters — An Agency Can Help

Your baby deserves a life full of love and opportunity. And you deserve to feel supported and safe in this process.

We’re here for you.