Suzanne Hobbs has been a storyteller since she was a young girl. That passion turned into a nearly 14-year career as a news reporter and news anchor in her home state of Idaho.

One significant story Suzanne covered was in October 2000. A tragic story of a baby found thrown away in a dumpster led her to advocate for a Safe Haven Law in Idaho. That law (now in all 50 states) allows for birth mothers to safely surrender their newborn babies to designated safe places like hospitals, fire stations and places of worship. (The law specifics vary state to state.)

Incredibly, in 2003 Suzanne adopted a newborn who was safely surrendered at a hospital under the protection of the law she helped implement. Her powerful story has been told in several magazines, two books, on television and radio. She also appeared as a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show to share her story to millions of viewers.

Suzanne keynote speaks about her story and is a national advocate for the safe surrender of unwanted newborns under the Baby Safe Haven Laws. She is also available to speak at your next event! Click here to book Suzanne.

Suzanne wrote The Hungry Snake after making up the story to her daughter, Lilly Love, one night at bedtime. It became a favorite story Lilly asked for over and over. It’s become the story this mother and daughter have used to bond at those special bedtime snuggle moments.

This is Suzanne’s first book, but she has many more fun stories to tell!

Every newborn deserves a safe start in life, and every parent deserves to know there is a safe, legal option during a time of crisis.

Safe Haven Laws exist in all 50 states and were created to prevent the unsafe abandonment of newborns. While the details vary from state to state, these laws generally allow a parent to safely and anonymously surrender a newborn at designated Safe Haven locations without fear of prosecution.

Safe Haven locations are often hospitals, fire stations, emergency medical service providers, or other designated facilities, depending on state law. Many participating locations display the Safe Haven logo, making them easy to identify.

The process is simple. A parent may bring the newborn to a designated Safe Haven location and hand the baby directly to a staff member. The baby is immediately cared for, protected, and placed into the appropriate child welfare system where arrangements can be made for the child’s future.

Because Safe Haven Laws are established by individual states, specific requirements vary. Most states have an age limit for the infant, typically ranging from a few days to several weeks after birth. Parents are encouraged to review the requirements in their state to understand the protections and procedures that apply.

Safe Haven Laws are built on a simple principle: no parent should feel they have no options, and no newborn should be placed in danger.

No Shame. No Name. No Blame.

If you or someone you know is facing a crisis involving a newborn, help is available. A Safe Haven surrender can provide a safe, legal, and compassionate path forward for both parent and child.