A secretsafeplacetn.org
The 24/7 Tennessee statewide Safe Haven helpline is 1-866-699-7233 and the National Safe Haven helpline is 1-888-510-2229.
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is free, confidential, and here to help, 24/7 and the number is 1-833-TLC-MAMA.
Postpartum support internatioal warmline is Call PSI HelpLine:
1-800-944-4773
#1 En Español or #2 English
Text “Help” to 800-944-4773 (EN)
Text en Español: 971-203-7773
Key Takeaways
Tennessee's Safe Haven Law provides a legal, anonymous, and compassionate option for mothers unable to care for newborns, protecting both infants from abandonment and mothers from prosecution when surrendered within 45 days at designated facilities.
The surrender process prioritizes maternal choice and dignity through trained staff, private rooms, comprehensive information packets, and support resources, recognizing the emotional complexity of the decision.
Over 1,500 accessible facilities statewide—including hospitals, police stations, fire departments, and urgent care clinics—ensure geographic availability, with a 24/7 helpline and online locator tool for mothers seeking assistance.
Legal protections include a 30-day reclamation window for both mother and father, with matching ID bracelets enabling identification if either parent changes their mind and contacts DCS.
Mothers in crisis should know that safe haven surrender is not about "giving up" but about choosing life and safety for their newborn while accessing maternal support resources and mental health services.
Quotable Moments
"Safe haven isn't about giving up, but it is about choosing life for your newborn child."
"If there is a mother out there that is listening, maybe you are facing a crisis and you feel desperate and you're convinced that there isn't another way, there isn't another option. I hope that you hear this message that there is a safe and compassionate option awaiting you."
"The surrender would need to take place at a designated safe haven facility. And the baby would need to be surrendered to a staff member of that facility. So mom cannot pull up to the facility in her car and place the baby and a baby carrier on the sidewalk."
Show Notes by Barevalue.
No content or comments made in any TIPQC Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Podcast is intended to be comprehensive or medical advice. Neither healthcare providers nor patients should rely on TIPQC’s Podcasts in determining the best practices for any particular patient. Additionally, standards and practices in medicine change as new information and data become available and the individual medical professional should consult a variety of sources in making clinical decisions for individual patients. TIPQC undertakes no duty to update or revise any particular Podcast. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or health care professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine appropriate treatment.
