WYOMING — The Wyoming Department of Family Services (WDFS) announced on July 3 that the Safety for a Newborn Child Act has updated the existing Safe Haven Law, which determines how many days after birth a parent can safely give up their child for any reason.
Now, a parent of a baby 60 days old or younger can give up their child to ensure the baby is cared for and kept safe. This is an increase from the previous limit of 14 days.
During the 2024 Legislative session, House Bill 0090, also known as Safety for a Newborn Child Act, was passed into law with an effective date of July 1. According to the WDFS, under this law, giving up a baby in this way is not considered abuse or neglect. The child will not be labeled as abused or neglected as a result of the relinquishment as long as the parent follows the guidelines outlined in the Act.
Parents can take their newborn to any Safe Haven location, including a fire station, hospital or police department, as long as the location is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The WDFS said in the announcement that a Safe Haven provider cannot demand any information from the person relinquishing the child. A parent or representative can voluntarily provide medical history information about the parents or the newborn. However, the Safe Haven provider must inform them that sharing this information is not required to relinquish the child. A Safe Haven provider will ask if the child has any tribal affiliation or Native American ancestry. If the child is identified as having Native American heritage, the Wyoming Indian Child Welfare Act will be followed by the court and all involved parties.
If either parent does not seek the return of the child within three months, the parental rights will be terminated so the child can be adopted.
