Location

Fire House No. 6
11670 East Shelby Drive
Collierville, TN 38017

(The Safe Haven Baby Box is located next to the parking lot on the west side of the building.)

How It Works

1. Open

The mother opens the exterior door which triggers a silent alarm once the door has been closed to notify on-duty fire personnel.

2. Place

Inside the climate-controlled box, there is a bassinet and a “Mother’s Packet” (an orange bag) containing medical history forms that are optional for the mother to fill out and resource information to assist a mother in crisis.

3. Close

Once the door is shut, it locks automatically. Firefighters retrieve the infant from the interior door within minutes.

 Legal Protections

The Tennessee Safe Haven law allows mothers of newborns to surrender unharmed babies to designated facilities within forty-five days of birth without fear of being prosecuted. Learn more about Safe Haven here: secretsafeplacetn.org.

Crisis Resources

National Safe Haven Baby Box Hotline with 24/7 Counseling: 1-866-99BABY1

FAQ List

1. What happens to the babies after they are surrendered?

Collierville Fire & Rescue personnel will receive the baby and provide any needed treatment, and the baby will be admitted to a nearby hospital. The staff is required by law to contact the local Department of Children's Services (DCS) office. When the baby is released from the hospital, DCS takes custody of the baby and will find an adoptive family. The baby may be placed in foster care until the adoption process starts.

2. What is the difference between a Safe Haven Facility and a Safe Haven Baby Box?

All fire stations are Safe Haven locations, and a baby can always be handed directly to firefighters. That process is confidential. The Safe Haven Baby Box provides an additional option with even greater anonymity, allowing the mother to surrender her baby without face-to-face contact.

3. Can fathers surrender an infant according to the safe haven law? 

No. In Tennessee, the Safe Haven Law allows only the mother to legally surrender a newborn. While fathers are protected from prosecution in these situations, the law requires that the mother herself bring the baby to a Safe Haven location to complete the surrender.

4. Can the mother speak to someone before she surrenders her newborn? 

A helpline is available 24/7 by calling 1-866-699-SAFE. The call is completely confidential. The mother will not be asked her name, and no one will be told that she called. She can also contact the TN Statewide Crisis Phone Line at 855-CRISIS-1

5. What if the mother changes her mind? (source: Secret Safe Place for Newborn TN)

The law does not prevent a mother from changing her mind. When a baby is surrendered, the baby is given an identification number, and the mother receives the same number. If she decides she wants her baby back, she should call the A Secret Safe Place for Newborns Helpline at 1-866-699-SAFE or contact her local Department of Children’s Services (DCS) office as soon as possible. Her right to reclaim the baby may be lost 30 days after the surrender. When she calls the helpline, someone will help her understand her options.

6. Can a father reclaim the infant? 

A father cannot use the Safe Haven process to surrender or reclaim a baby. However, if a father wants to claim the infant, he may do so through the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) and the court system. Any claim by a father is handled through the legal process to establish parental rights and determine custody based on the child’s best interests.