2nd baby surrendered under Nebraska's expanded safe haven law

A second baby has been surrendered under Nebraska’s expanded safe haven law.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said in a news release Wednesday that the baby was surrendered to a safe haven location in the northwestern part of the state on Saturday and is in the care of the department. It said it will not release any other information about the infant because of health privacy laws.

The expanded safe haven law, which took effect in July 2024, allows a baby up to 90 days old to be left with an employee on duty at a licensed hospital, fire station, law enforcement agency or an emergency care provider. It also prevents any criminal prosecution of the person for surrendering the child.

The first surrender under the law took place in April in northeast Nebraska.

“Since the Safe Haven expansion took effect, we’ve seen firsthand how impactful it can be for families in crisis,” DHHS Children and Family Services Interim Director Kathleen Stolz said in a news release. “But it only works when people know about it. We rely on organizations, local leaders, and communities across Nebraska to continue sharing this message so every family understands that this safe option exists.”