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

Placing Your Baby for Adoption in Wyoming

You have more surrender options than you might realize, and you don't have to make this decision alone.

If you’re not ready to parent, you’re likely searching for the safest, most caring option for your baby’s future.

You might have heard about Safe Haven baby boxes as a way to legally and anonymously surrender a newborn. While Wyoming does have a Safe Haven law that protects parents from legal trouble, there are no baby boxes currently located in the state.

No matter your circumstances, you still have real options. This guide will help you understand how Safe Haven laws work in Wyoming and explain how adoption offers better outcomes for both you and your baby.

For more information, call 1-800-236-7846 or fill out our online form.

How Do Safe Haven Baby Boxes Work in Wyoming?

Safe Haven baby boxes allow you to anonymously surrender a newborn at certain locations. They’re available 24/7, and you won’t get in trouble for using one as long as your baby is safe.

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.

However, there are currently no Safe Haven baby boxes in Wyoming. If you’re considering this option, you would need to hand your baby directly to staff at a Safe Haven provider.

Looking for an option that gives you more control? You may want to consider adoption.

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

Both options allow you to legally give up a baby anonymously, but only one gives you support and choices for your baby’s future.

When you surrender under the Safe Haven law, your baby enters foster care. You don’t get to choose the family or know what happens next.

But with adoption through an agency, you get:

  • Financial support for housing, groceries, medical care and more.

  • Adoption planning that puts you in control of the process.

  • Free, 24/7 counseling and guidance from licensed professionals.

  • Open or semi-open adoption options to stay connected.

    If you want your baby to grow up in a loving, stable home that you choose, adoption is a better path. Learn more about adoption in Wyoming.

    Emergency Adoption Options: How Agencies Can Help Right Now

    Even if you’ve already given birth or are hours from delivering, it’s not too late. Here are adoption agencies that can help:

    American Adoptions: This national agency has a 24/7 hotline. When you call, you’ll be connected with a trained adoption professional who will walk you through your options with zero pressure.

    Adoption Life (Lyman): Adoption Life offers personal adoption planning, emotional support and confidential services for expectant mothers.

    Lifeline Children’s Services (Cheyenne): This faith-based agency offers adoption planning and resources tailored to women in crisis.

    Wyoming Children’s Society (Cheyenne): Wyoming Children’s Society provides full adoption services and post-placement support.

    Understanding Safe Haven Laws in Wyoming: What You Should Know

    The Safe Haven law in Wyoming allows you to legally surrender a newborn who is 60 days old or younger under specific conditions:

    • You must bring the baby to a safe haven provider, such as a hospital or fire station.
    • You won’t face legal consequences if the baby is safe and the law is followed.
    • You can provide medical or tribal background, but it’s optional.

    The provider can give emergency care and must transfer the baby to the nearest hospital. The hospital will contact the Wyoming Department of Family Services within 24 hours. From there, the state takes custody and places the baby in an adoptive home.

    Where Is the Closest Safe Haven Baby Box in Wyoming?

    Looking for a Safe Haven baby box near you? Unfortunately, there are no Safe Haven baby boxes in Wyoming. The closest locations are in neighboring states:

    Lockwood Fire Department (Billings, MT)

    Grove Creek Medical Center (Blackfoot, ID)

    Understanding the Consequences of Using a Safe Haven Location in Wyoming

    Surrendering a baby under the Safe Haven law is a legal option, but it comes with permanent consequences. Here’s what happens after you place a baby in the box or leave them at a Safe Haven location:

    1. You forfeit all decision making.

      The state makes all future decisions about the child’s care, including who will adopt them.

    2. 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.

    3. 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.

      You give up all rights the moment you walk away. You’ll have no ongoing information about your baby’s well-being and development. Safe Haven surrender means complete separation with no opportunity for updates or contact.

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

      You might be wondering: Is adoption better than Safe Haven?

      In most cases, yes. It lets you shape your baby’s future. You can give them:

      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 if you want, you can stay connected through open or semi-open adoption. You can even maintain direct contact, if that’s what you want. This gives you the chance to explain your decision when they’re old enough to understand.,

      How Private Adoption Agencies Keep Your Information Confidential

      Are afraid of someone finding out about your pregnancy and decision? With private adoption, you can stay completely anonymous if that’s what you want. But unlike Safe Haven surrender, adoption still gives you the power to choose what happens next.

      You can decide who adopts your baby, what their life looks like and how much contact you want to maintain. Even in open adoption arrangements, you decide the level of information sharing that feels comfortable for you. This might include regular photo and letter updates or occasional visits.

      FAQ About Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Wyoming

      What Makes Safe Haven Boxes Safe for Babies?

      They are temperature-controlled, ventilated and lock automatically. A silent alarm alerts staff and 911 services so the baby receives care right away.

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

      Possibly. You must act within three months of the surrender to formally request the baby’s return.

      Can Safe Haven Babies Be Adopted?

      Possibly. After going through the foster system, Safe Haven babies may be adopted. However, you will not have a say in who adopts them.

      Is There a Safe Haven Law Age Limit in Wyoming?

      Yes. Only babies 60 days old or younger can be surrendered.

      What Does a Safe Haven Box Look Like?

      It’s usually marked with a “Safe Haven Baby Box Drop Off” sign. The door opens from the outside, and inside there’s a secure, bassinet-style bed.

      What You Do Next Matters — An Agency Can Help

      You can still give your baby a safe, loving future — and you don’t have to do it alone. With adoption, you can choose what kind of life they’ll have and stay connected if you want to.

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