Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Tennessee: A Compassionate Guide for Parents in Crisis
If you are reading this in a moment of fear, uncertainty, or exhaustion, please know that you are not alone, and that looking for answers right now may be the most important thing you do today. Facing an unplanned pregnancy or feeling unable to care for a newborn does not make you a bad person; it makes you human, and it means you are already trying to do right by your child. Whether you need someone to talk to through confidential counseling or practical help through emergency assistance, support is closer than you may think.
The Safe Haven Law in Tennessee, which was put in place more than two decades ago, was written for exactly this moment. Today, that protection has grown to include Safe Haven baby boxes, giving parents a safe, private, and legal way to surrender a newborn without judgment, without complicated paperwork, and without fear. This guide walks you through everything you need to know, clearly and without pressure.
Key Takeaways
- Tennessee's Safe Haven Law protects you. Surrendering an unharmed newborn 45 days old or younger is legal, confidential, and prosecution-free.
- Baby boxes offer complete anonymity. You can place a newborn inside without speaking to anyone.
- Trained responders act immediately. A silent alarm alerts fire personnel the moment a baby is placed in the box.
- You may change your mind. Parents generally have up to 30 days to initiate reunification after surrendering.
- Shelby County now has its first baby box. Collierville Fire Station No. 6 opened the county's first box in February 2026, marking the 27th in Tennessee.
- Help is available around the clock. Call the SSPTN helpline anytime: 1-866-699-7233.
Understanding the Safe Haven Law in Tennessee
Before getting into how baby boxes work, it helps to understand the law that makes them possible. Tennessee's Safe Haven Law was first enacted on July 1, 2001, and has been updated several times since to better serve families. A 2020 amendment extended the original 72-hour surrender window to 14 days, and a further update effective July 1, 2025 extended it again to 45 days old or younger. The law has one clear purpose: to prevent unsafe abandonment by giving parents a legal, confidential alternative.
Under this law, a parent can bring their baby to any designated Safe Haven facility, including fire stations, hospitals, and other approved locations across the state. No name, identification, or explanation is required, and the parent faces no criminal charges for abandonment as long as the baby is unharmed. If they choose, a parent may also fill out a voluntary medical history form to help future caregivers understand the baby's needs, though this is entirely optional.
The organization behind much of this outreach is A Secret Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee (SSPTN), a nonprofit dedicated to making sure every Tennessean knows this option exists. Through education, community outreach, and partnerships with more than 1,500 designated facilities across the state, SSPTN has helped facilitate the safe surrender of 147 newborns as of early 2026. Their 24-hour helpline is staffed to answer questions and offer support to anyone who reaches out.
What Are Safe Haven Baby Boxes and How Do They Work?
Safe Haven baby boxes take the protections of the law one step further by removing the need for any face-to-face interaction. For some parents, the idea of handing a baby directly to a firefighter or hospital staff member can feel overwhelming, even when they know it is the right choice. The baby box was designed with exactly that in mind: a way to make the process as private and low-pressure as possible while keeping the newborn completely safe.
Each baby box is a climate-controlled, electronically monitored unit built into the exterior wall of a fire station or other approved facility. It maintains a safe temperature at all times and resembles a secure, padded bassinet. Here is what the process looks like:
- Open the door. The parent approaches the unit and opens the outer door, which triggers a silent alarm inside the station.
- Place the baby inside. The baby is placed gently in the padded interior, and a second signal alerts on-duty personnel.
- Close the door. Once the door is closed, the baby is secured, and responders are immediately dispatched.
- Walk away if you choose. There is no obligation to stay. The parent can leave anonymously while trained firefighters arrange transport to a hospital for a medical evaluation.
Along with the box itself, parents have the option to leave a voluntary medical history form, which helps future caregivers understand the child's needs. An information packet is also available that includes support resources and details about the reunification option, which is generally available within 30 days for parents who change their minds.
The Shelby County Fire Station Baby Box and Milestones Across Tennessee
With the basics of the law and how baby boxes work covered, it is worth looking at how this program has taken shape closer to home. The opening of the Shelby County fire station baby box at Collierville Fire Station No. 6 in February 2026 marked a meaningful moment for the Memphis metro area. Located at 11670 E. Shelby Drive, it is the first baby box in Shelby County and the 27th installed across Tennessee. A blessing ceremony was held to mark the occasion, with community members and first responders gathering to recognize what this resource means for families in need.
Collierville Fire and Rescue partnered with A Secret Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee to bring this resource to the community. All Collierville fire stations are designated Safe Haven facilities, staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the box at Fire Station No. 6 is accessible at any time from the west side of the building. As one fire crew member shared at the opening, the team was "excited to offer this baby box to give a mother who is experiencing a serious life challenge an option for that child."
The Shelby County installation came on the heels of a real-life use case from nearby Atoka, Tennessee, where a baby was safely surrendered at Atoka Fire Station No. 1 during the 2025 holiday season. Atoka Fire Chief Bill Scott said it plainly: "Just by saving this one life this weekend, it was worth it." That story resonated across the Mid-South and helped build support for expanding the program to Shelby County and beyond. The table below shows where boxes are currently located in the region:
| Location | County / State | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Collierville Fire Station No. 6 | Shelby County, TN | Open Feb. 2026 — 1st in Shelby County |
| Atoka Fire Station No. 1 | Tipton County, TN | Open since Nov. 2024 |
| Jackson, Tennessee | Madison County, TN | Operational |
| Jonesboro, Arkansas | Craighead County, AR | Operational |
| Forrest City, Arkansas | St. Francis County, AR | Operational (~45 mi. from Memphis) |
What to Do If You Are Facing an Unplanned or Unwanted Pregnancy
Knowing that Safe Haven options exist is important, but for many parents, the harder question comes earlier: what do you do when you find out you are pregnant and feel unprepared or unable to cope? If you are trying to figure out what to do if you accidentally get pregnant, the first thing to know is that you have time to breathe. You do not have to figure everything out at once, and reaching out for help is not a failure.
For parents who have already given birth and find themselves unable to provide care, the Safe Haven law was written for this exact situation. You do not need to have planned ahead. Whether you are dealing with financial hardship, an absent support system, a health crisis, or circumstances you never anticipated, the law does not ask for an explanation. It simply offers a safe path for your baby and legal protection for you.
For those still pregnant and weighing their options, counseling and pregnancy support services are available across Tennessee, including the Memphis and Mid-South areas. These services can help you think through parenting support, adoption planning, and crisis resources in a private setting, so you can arrive at a decision you feel settled about. Many organizations also provide practical help, such as housing referrals, material assistance, and support that extends well beyond the birth itself.
If you are feeling isolated or overwhelmed, a local pregnancy support center is a good starting point. Confidential consultations are often free, and many programs are set up to address not just the immediate situation, but the longer-term emotional and practical needs that come with it: from counseling services and resource navigation to mentorship and community support groups for those who need a steady presence over time. Whatever path you are considering, you deserve support along the way.
Are Safe Haven Baby Boxes Available Outside of Tennessee?
Tennessee is not the only state where this option exists. Safe Haven baby boxes are part of a national effort that has been growing steadily since the first box was installed in Indiana in 2016. The organization Safe Haven Baby Boxes (SHBB) was founded that same year by Monica Kelsey, a firefighter and medic from Indiana, after she learned she had been abandoned as an infant herself. Today, boxes are installed in more than a dozen states, and new locations continue to come online.
For parents outside Tennessee who are looking into Safe Haven options, the table below gives a general picture of where baby boxes are currently available:
| State | Approx. No. of Boxes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | ~150 | First state; most boxes per capita in the U.S. |
| Kentucky | 56+ | One of the most active programs in the South |
| Arkansas | 30+ | Closest neighboring state to Tennessee with boxes |
| Tennessee | 27+ | Includes new Shelby County location |
| Alabama | 18+ | Rapidly expanding |
| Ohio | 14+ | Active program with multiple locations |
| Texas | 11+ | Authorized by law in 2023 |
| Mississippi | 8+ | Law passed in 2023 |
| West Virginia | 4 | Boxes installed at fire stations |
| Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, and others | Varies | Active programs authorized under state law |
| Florida, New Mexico, North Carolina, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Montana | Varies | Installed, some without specific state law |
It is also worth noting that every U.S. state has its own safe haven law allowing parents to surrender newborns at designated facilities such as hospitals and fire stations, even in states where baby boxes are not yet installed. So regardless of where you are, a safe and legal option exists. If you need guidance finding one, the National Safe Haven Alliance operates a 24/7 crisis helpline and can connect you with the closest available resource.
Safe Haven 24-Hour Helpline:
1-866-699-SAFE (1-866-699-7233)
SSPTN Website:
www.secretsafeplacetn.org
National Safe Haven Alliance:
www.nationalsafehavenalliance.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I accidentally get pregnant and I don't want it?
Give yourself space first, and then reach out to a pregnancy support service where you can talk through your options privately and without pressure. A trained counselor can walk you through what resources are available, including confidential support and practical assistance, so you are not making any decisions alone.
What should I do if I'm pregnant by mistake and feel like I can't cope?
Feeling overwhelmed by an unplanned pregnancy is far more common than many people realize, and there is no shame in reaching out for help. Local pregnancy resource centers across Tennessee offer emotional support, material assistance, and guidance on all available options: you can also explore emergency assistance programs if you are in immediate need.
pregnancy when you have no support system?
How do you deal with an unwanted Connecting with a pregnancy support organization is often the most important first step, because these organizations exist specifically for people in this situation. Many offer free counseling, help with housing, baby supplies, and connections to financial assistance programs, so you do not have to work through it alone.
Can I use a Safe Haven baby box if I am not in Tennessee?
Yes. Baby boxes are available in many states outside Tennessee, including Indiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, Ohio, Alabama, and others, with the program continuing to expand. If you are unsure whether a box is near you, the Safe Haven Baby Boxes organization operates a national 24-hour hotline that can point you to the closest location.
If I surrender my baby, can I change my mind and get them back?
Parents who surrender a newborn under Tennessee's Safe Haven Law are generally given information about the option to pursue reunification within 30 days of the surrender. If you think you may want to reconnect with your baby, it is important to act quickly and contact A Secret Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee or a legal advocate who can walk you through the specific steps for your situation.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are navigating an unplanned pregnancy, facing a crisis after giving birth, or supporting someone you care about through a difficult time, please hold on to this: there are people in Tennessee and across the country who want to help, and the safe haven law was written with you in mind. The Shelby County fire station baby box at Collierville Fire Station No. 6 is one part of a much larger network of support, and if you ever need it, it is there for you, day or night, with no questions and no shame.
No matter where you are in your journey, you do not have to face it alone. From one-on-one counseling and emergency assistance to mentorship and community support, there are people ready to walk alongside you, practically and emotionally. Serving families across the Memphis and Mid-South area, our team is here to make sure you never have to make this decision without someone in your corner. See how we can help.
Reference:
https://www.secretsafeplacetn.org/
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