Safe Havens For Newborns Program | Ohio Department Of Job And Family Services
30 East Broad Street, 32nd Floor, Columbus, OH 43215
Eligibility
Birth parent (mother or father).
Required documents
Hours
Mon-Fri 8am-5pm.
(800) 755-4769
Voice
Application process
The birth parent is not required to provide any information, including his or her name. However, it would help the baby if the birth parent chose to provide basic health information.
Fees
None.
Service area
Guernsey County, Ohio
Crawford County, Ohio
Washington County, Ohio
Athens County, Ohio
Knox County, Ohio
Licking County, Ohio
Noble County, Ohio
Wyandot County, Ohio
Monroe County, Ohio
Coshocton County, Ohio
Marion County, Ohio
Pickaway County, Ohio
Not all women who get pregnant are ready to raise a child. Sometimes they see no options except to abandon the baby. Safe Havens provides an option. It allows a birth parent to leave a newborn infant (up to 30 days old) with any medical worker, hospital, fire department or other emergency service organization, or a peace officer at a law enforcement agency. If the infant is left with a person at one of these places, and has not been abused, the parent will face no legal consequences for making this choice. The birth parent (mother or father) can take a child to a Safe Haven. The law provides protection from prosecution only for the child's parents.
Last assured
07/24/2025
What's Here
Providing organization
Ohio Department Of Job And Family Services
ODJFS is responsible for supervising the state’s public assistance, workforce development, unemployment compensation, child and adult protective services, adoption, child care, and child support programs. ODJFS also is the single state agency responsible for the administration of Ohio’s Medicaid program.