New parents in Wisconsin who don’t feel ready or able to raise their newborn child can still give those infants a chance at a new life without the fear of legal repercussions.
The state’s Safe Haven, or infant relinquishment, law allows parents to turn over a baby to certain qualified individuals within 72 hours of them being born, with limited exceptions and without legal consequences. DCF notes the parent may be asked to fill out a form, but emphasizes that they don’t have to. The form is offered to help provide better care for the child going forward. NBC15 News reached out to the Madison Fire Dept. about the Safe Haven law and were told, unlike other the fire departments, they do not have someone designated to a watchroom 24 hours a day. Therefore, all firefighters could be out on a call and may not be able to receive or take care of the baby until they return, which could have detrimental effects on the baby, especially in winter.