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The Arizona Department of Child Safety is currently transitioning to the new Guardian information management system. During this timeframe and for several days following the transition, there may be longer than normal wait times. Thanks in advance for your patience.

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Arizona Department of Child Safety
Phone: Child Abuse Hotline 1-888-767-2445
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  • Home
  • About
    • About DCS
    • Administration
      • Mike Faust, DCS Director
    • Engage
    • Field Offices
    • Policy & Procedure
      • DCS Policy & Procedure
      • DCS Rules & Rulemaking
      • DCS Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
      • DCS Non-Discrimination Policy
      • DCS Limited English Proficiency Policy
    • Procurement & Contracts
    • Strategic Plan
    • Community Advisory Committee
    • Volunteer
      • Get Involved
      • Community Partners
      • Community / Volunteer Interest Form
      • FACT Program
    • Contact Us
  • Careers
    • Career Opportunities
      • Child Safety Specialist
      • Child Welfare Investigative Specialist (OCWI)
    • Open Positions
    • We are Compassioneers
  • News & Reports
    • News Releases
    • DCS Reports
    • Performance Measures
      • DCS Monthly / Semi-Annual Report
      • Agency Progress
    • Child Fatalities / Near Fatalities
    • Process for Release of Info
    • Settlement - Tinsley v. Faust
  • Parents
    • Parent Guide
    • Parents Rights
    • Parent Advisory Collaborative
  • Foster & Adoption
    • Foster Care
      • Steps for Becoming a Foster Parent
      • Is Foster Parenting Right for Me?
      • Foster Care Licensing Agency Matrix
      • Foster Care Information Session Events
    • Adoption
      • Adoption Stories
    • Children's Heart Gallery
    • Search AdoptUSKids
    • Foster & Kinship Caregiver Go-To-Guide
    • Foster & Kinship FAQ's
      • Foster Resources
      • Kinship Resources
    • AZ Thrive Newsletter
  • Resource
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Request DCS Information
    • Complaint or Disagreement
      • Ombudsman Complaint Form
    • DCS Forms
    • DCS Brochures & Flyers
    • Protective Services Review Team (PSRT)
  • Services
    • Comprehensive Medical & Dental Program (CMDP)
      • Members
      • Providers
      • Behavioral Health
      • Announcements
      • CMDP Provider Manual
      • Child Welfare Resources
      • Newsletters
      • Connecting Communities
      • Your Opinion Matters
      • LEP- Limited English Proficiency
      • Integrated Physical and Behavioral Health Services for Children in Foster Care
    • Prevention
      • Safe Sleep
      • Arizona Families F.I.R.S.T.
      • Healthy Families Arizona
      • Regional Child Abuse Prevention Councils
      • In-Home Services Program
      • Resources for Parents
      • Back-To-School Resources and Tips for Parents
    • Investigations and OCWI
    • Office of Licensing & Regulation (OLR)
    • Young Adult
      • Young Adult Program
      • Young Adult Resources
      • Transitional Independent (TILP)
      • National Youth in Transition Database
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    • Child Abuse Hotline
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  • Home
  • Report Child Abuse
  • Safe Haven Newborn Information

Safe Haven Newborn Information

What is a Safe Haven Newborn?

A Safe Haven newborn is an unharmed infant who is 72 hours old or younger and the infant is delivered by a parent or agent of the parent to a Safe Haven provider.

What can a parent or guardian expect?

A parent or agent of the parent may remain anonymous and the Safe Haven provider shall not require the parent or agent of the parent to answer any questions. The Safe Haven provider shall offer the parent or agent of the parent written information about information and referral organizations.

Who is a Safe Haven provider?

A Safe Haven provider is:

  1. a firefighter on duty,
  2. an emergency medical technician on duty,
  3. a medical staff person at a general hospital or a rural general hospital on duty,
  4. a staff member or volunteer at a licensed private child welfare agency which posts a public notice that it is willing to accept a newborn infant,
  5. a staff member or volunteer at a licensed private adoption agency which posts a public notice that it is willing to accept a newborn infant, and
  6. a staff member or volunteer at a church which posts a public notice that it is willing to accept a newborn infant.

How long does a parent have to drop off a newborn?

If a parent or agent of a parent voluntarily delivers the newborn infant to a Safe Haven provider, the Safe Haven provider shall take custody of the newborn infant if both of the following are true:

  1. The parent did not express an intent to return for the newborn infant.
  2. The Safe Haven provider reasonably believes that the child is a newborn infant (72 hours old or younger).

What should a provider do after receiving an infant?

A Safe Haven provider must:

  1. Immediately transport the newborn infant or arrange for the newborn infant to be transported to a hospital for a physical examination;
  2. Immediately call Department of Child Safety (DCS) at 1-888-767-2445 to inform DCS that a newborn infant has been left with the Safe Haven provider, the location of the hospital where the agency transported the infant or arranged for the infant to be transported; and
  3. Inform DCS, if the Safe Haven provider is a private licensed adoption agency or affiliated with one, and whether that agency will take custody of the infant within 24 hours after the hospital completes the physical exam.

How can a licensed private adoption agency work with DCS?

A licensed private adoption agency may contact DCS to be placed on this rotating list if the agency:

  1. is a non-profit agency,
  2. does not specialize in international adoptions, and
  3. has a 24 hour emergency contact number.

 

The DCS contact person is Sue Schmelz. She may be contacted at (520) 784-2569.

How quickly must a private adoption agency act to receive a Safe Haven newborn?

Within 24 hours after the completion of the physical examination.

 

What happens if a newborn is not claimed by a private adoption agency?

Department of Child Safety will contact the next licensed private adoption agency on the rotating list of agencies until an agency is contacted that agrees to take custody of the infant. If no agency is identified to take custody of the infant within 48 hours after completion of the infant’s physical examination, DCS will take custody of the infant.

 

When will DCS take custody of a Safe Haven newborn?

If no agency takes custody of the infant within 48 hours after completion of the physical examination, DCS must take custody of the infant. DCS will also take custody of an infant if the hospital identifies that the infant is older than 72 hours or has been abused or neglected.

 


 

 

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