Safe Haven
A Safe Haven for Your Baby
If you’re pregnant, there are several options for you. Feeling nervous or scared or not knowing where to turn is natural – this is a big step in a lot of people’s lives. There are people and programs out there who want to help you through it.
You can make decisions before having a baby about who will care for the newborn. That might mean relatives, adoptive parents, the father and/or you.
A great advice and information center is the Pennsylvania Safe Haven Helpline, at 1-866-921-SAFE (7233). They can walk you through the decisions you’ll have to make and explore all your options before the baby is born. Another good place for information is the Safe Haven web site, at www.secretsafe.org.
If you’re not prepared to be a mom or take care of your newborn, and you don’t have anyone to ask for help, there’s a place where you can take your baby to ensure his or her safety and health – a Safe Haven. All hospitals in Pennsylvania are Safe Havens. All you have to do is give your newborn (up to 28 days old) to any hospital. That’s all. No one will ask questions. No one will judge you. If it’s a secret, it will stay a secret.
- You don’t have to worry about the hospital staff asking you for personal information or asking why you’re bringing your baby. They are there to protect babies and want to give newborns all the care they need and deserve, no matter what. No one will ask you who you are or where you live. No information is required.
- There are signs at hospitals that should tell you where to leave the baby. If you don’t see any signs, give the baby to any hospital staff member – they’ll know what to do.
- As long as the baby is unharmed, you will not get into trouble. A physician will examine the baby and make sure the newborn stays healthy.
- It is important that you tell the hospital about any health problems you or the baby may have. You can provide medical information for the baby, but it’s not required and you don’t have to answer any questions. If you’d like, you can take a health history form with you to fill out and mail in anonymously.
After the baby is left at the hospital, he or she is in safe hands. The local county children and youth agency will take custody of the baby and find the baby a good home. If at any point you change your mind and want your baby back, you will need to contact your county children and youth agency.
It is very important throughout this process that you and your baby are healthy. Please see a physician. It is extremely unsafe to go through a pregnancy with no medical help. If you are unsure of where to go, you have several options for medical care. Call the Healthy Baby Helpline, at 1-800-986-BABY (2229), and someone will help you find free or low-cost healthcare services.
Alumni
- Talha Bhatti, DO.- Hospitalist at Private Practice Norfolk, Virginia, Class of 2021
- Namita Biala, DO.- Nephrology Fellowship, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, Class of 2021
- Yin Chi, DO.- Hunterdon Family Practice & Obstetrics, Flemington, NJ, Class of 2021
- Esther Davila, DO.- Family Medicine Private Practice, Las Vegas, NV, Class of 2021
- John Demario, DO.- AFC Urgent Care Aston, PA, Class of 2021
- Monika Drzymalksi, DO.-Patient First Urgent Care Langhorne, PA, Class of 2021
- Anthony Errico, DPM.- Podiatric Private Practice Dallas, TX, Class of 2021
- Dinna Getachew, DO.- Outpatient Internal Medicine San Francisco, CA, Class of 2021
- Shivali Patel-Johnston, DO.- UPMC Pinnacle Primary Care Practice York, PA, Class of 2021
- Arianna Lalputan, DO.- Comprehensive Care Medical Associates Langhorne, PA, Class of 2021
- Christopher Lyerly, DPM- InStride Foot and Ankle Specialists Clemmons, NC, Class of 2021
- Khuzema Mohsin, MD. -Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Larkin Community Hospital, Palm Springs, FL, Class of 2021
- Nathaina Smith, DO.- Intermountain Healthcare Las Vegas, NV, Class of 2021
- Usman Zaheer, DO.- Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at LSU Sciences Center New Orleans, LA, Class of 2021
- Allen, Andria, Family Medicine, 7/1/2015-9/21/2016, Graduated 2016, Post-Graduation Employment, Outpatient FM in Ravenswood, WV
- Ayers, Jessica, Family Medicine, 1/13/2016-6/30/2017, Graduated 2017, Post-Graduation Employment, Outpatient FM Penn Highlands Healthcare Curwensville, PA
- Barnum, April Lynn, Family Medicine, 7/1/2016-6/30/2019, Graduated 2019, Fellowship, Sports Medicine. San Diego Sport and Family Center. Team Doctor for the USA Olympic Team and working with San Diego State University
- Boppana, Srinivas, Family Medicine, 7/1/2014-6/30/2015, Graduated 2015, Post-Graduation Employment Outpatient FM, Tampa, FL
- Darbandi, Mohammad, Family Medicine, 7/1/2016-6/30/2019, Graduated 2019, Post-Graduation Employment, Outpatient Medicine. Mercy Medical Center. Baltimore
- Ganabathi, Ratna, Internal Medicine, 6/30/2018-6/30/2019, Graduated 2019, Post-Graduation Employment, Hospitalist. Holy Redeemer Hospital. Meadowbrook, PA
- Gibb, Eri, Family Medicine, 3/16/2016-8/25/2017, Graduated 2017, Post-Graduation Employment, Outpatient FM at Mesa View Medical Group in Mesquite, NV
- Gibbons, William, Family Medicine, 3/15/2016-6/30/2018, Graduated 2018, Post-Graduation Employment, Urgent Care Physician in Lancaster, PA
- Kirby, Christopher, Family Medicine, 7/1/2014-6/30/2017, Graduated 2017, Post-Graduation Employment, Urgent Care Physician with Patient First in Philadelphia Suburbs
- Lam, Si, Family Medicine, 7/1/2015-6/30/2018, Graduated 2018, Post-Graduation Employment, Outpatient FM at Holland Medical Associates, owned by Holly Redeemer Hospital
- Leibu, Dora, Family Medicine, 7/1/2014-6/30/2017, Graduated 2017, Post-Graduation Employment, Outpatient FM at Summit Medical Group, NJ
- Levin, Phung, Family Medicine, 7/1/2014-6/30/2016, Graduated 2016, Post-Graduation Employment, Emergency Medicine, Baltimore, NJ
- Liebman, Catherine, Family Medicine, 7/1/2014-1/12/2016, Graduated 2016, Fellowship, Sports Medicine, Christiana Care Health System, Post-Graduation Employment, Penn Family Care, Philadelphia
- Maguire, Jeffrey, Family Medicine, 7/1/2014-7/20/2016, Graduated
- Markham, Alaina, Family Medicine, 7/1/2014-6/30/2015, Graduated 2015, Post-Graduation Employment, Tri-County Emergency Physicians – Pottstown
- Matriya, Purwaai, Family Medicine, 7/1/2016-6/30/2018, Graduated 2018, Post-Graduation Employment, Outpatient Family Medicine, Washington, DC
- McClellan, Matthew, Family Medicine, 7/1/2014-12/15/2015, Graduated 2015, Post-Graduation Employment, Emergency Medicine, Carlise, PA
- Mena, Joshua, Family Medicine, 7/1/2017-6/30/2019, Graduated 2019, Fellowship, ER Fellowship. Wheeling Hospital. West Virginia,
- Mincer, Dana, Family Medicine, 7/1/2017-112/2018, Graduated 2018, Post-Graduation Employment, Urgent Care with Patient First, Montgomery County PA.
- Moore, Teiah, Family Medicine, 7/1/2015-6/30/2018, Graduated 2018, Post-Graduation Employment, Family Practice Center of Newtown
- Murray, Robert, Internal Medicine, 7/1/2017-6/30/2019, Graduated 2019, Post-Graduation Employment, Internal Medicine with First Docs Group
- Okeke, Ijemoa, Family Medicine, 10/23/2017-6/29/2018, Graduated 2018
- Patterson, Jennifer, Family Medicine, 3/15/2016-11/2/2018, Graduated 2018, Fellowship, Geriatrics - PCOM, Post-Graduation Employment, Bucks Integrative Medicine
- Pritchette-Harget, Louella, Family Medicine, 7/1/2015-6/30/2016, Graduated 2016, Post-Graduation Employment, Outpatient FM in Reading, PA
- Schmidt, Mary-Melissa, Family Medicine, 7/1/2014-6/30/2016, Graduated 2016, Post-Graduation Employment, Peconic Bay Medical Center, Middletown, NY
- Torrance, Ronald, Family Medicine, 7/1/2014-6/30/2016, Graduated 2016, Fellowship, Sports Medicine, Inspira, Vineland, NJ, Post-Graduation Employment, Outpatient Sports Medicine at Regenexx Tampa Bay, Sarasota, FL
- Weivoda, Starchild, Family Medicine, 8/26/2014-8/25/2015, Graduated 2015, Post-Graduation Employment, Outpatient FM, Anchorage, Alaska
- White, Jonathan, Family Medicine, 8/26/2016-6/30/2018, Graduated 2018, Post-Graduation Employment, Inpatient - Roxborough, Jeanes
- Williams, Keith, Family Medicine, 7/1/2016-6/30/2019, Graduated 2019, Post-Graduation Employment, Urgent Care Physician