Community Invited to Penn Highlands State College Safe Haven Baby Box Blessing

Mothers in crisis have a new alternative to safely and anonymously surrender their babies in the Centre County Region with the Safe Haven Baby Box located adjacent to the Emergency Department (ED) at Penn Highlands State College.

The public is invited to a ceremony blessing the Safe Haven Baby Box on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 4:00 PM at Penn Highlands State College.

The ceremony will include prayer to raise awareness of the Safe Haven Law which was enacted in 2001 to prevent the illegal abandonment of newborns. The law allows mothers to confidentially surrender their unharmed babies within 28 days of birth to staff at any Safe Haven facility without fear of prosecution for abandonment.

The Safe Haven Baby Box is a safety device that is installed in an exterior wall of the ED. When a baby is placed inside the box, the door automatically locks and the ED staff receives notification that a baby has been surrendered. The baby is immediately removed and examined.

The Penn Highlands State College Emergency Department is one of only two locations in Pennsylvania that has a Safe Haven Baby Box to meet the needs of mothers in crisis.

Refreshments will be served following the ceremony.

Penn Highlands State College is located at 239 Colonnade Boulevard in State College.