Most people don't know the Baby Safe Haven Law exits. Because of that, hundreds of precious babies are discarded every year, and too many don't survive.

Reviewing the profiles of women who had killed their newborns, researchers discovered that the perception of a young poor, unemployed, single woman as the culprit is not borne out by evidence. The women were mostly around 26 years old, had other children, did not show evidence of mental problems, had no record of being abused as children, and had regular jobs. Half of them were living with the baby's father.

Known age of mothers:         Age 14–17                 15.85%

                                         Age 18–24                 46.34%

                                         Age 25–30                 23.17%

                                         Age 31–41                 14.63%

Known race of newborn:        African/Black             28.18%

                                         Caucasian/White         44.45%

                                         Latino/Hispanic          19.09%

                                         Mixed/                      7.27%

Come of the Foundations Accomplishments:

August 17, 2001: Act signed into law. Focus turns to public awareness.

April 4, 2003: proclaimed by Governor as first Save Abandoned Babies Day.

2004: law amended adding police stations as designated Safe Haven locations.

2006: amended IL Comprehensive Health Education Program to require teaching grades 6 – 12 about the Safe Haven law.

2006: law amended to extend relinquishment to 7 days old or younger.

2007: law passed requiring all Illinois Safe Havens display a uniform sign indicating the facility as a designated Safe Haven. These signs are now used in at least 26 other states.

2008: Alaska and Nebraska sign Safe Haven laws. All 50 states now have a Safe Haven law.

2009: law amended to extend relinquishment to 30 days old or younger.

2010: law amended to improve information given to relinquishing parents to obtain medical information.

2011: law amended to include state college, university and private college or university when police department employees are present, and district headquarters of State Police as designated Safe Haven locations.