Celebrating 25 years of Safe Place for Newborns

A new logo for Safe Place for Newborns was released in April 2026

In April 2001, Helen Healy’s vision for saving the lives of babies in Wisconsin had come to fruition with the signing of the Safe Haven Law. 

Her brother was involved in passing similar legislation in Minnesota, and when Helen learned of a baby dying in a Wisconsin dorm room, she knew she couldn’t sit idle.

“I couldn’t shake the thought that if a young, scared mother knew there was a safe, legal, compassionate option a life could have been saved,” Helen said. “Starting the program was about protecting babies and giving parents a safe option in moments of crisis.”

Helen quickly went to work in getting the Safe Haven Law passed in Wisconsin. She worked closely with legislators, testified at hearings and helped explain the importance of the law to lawmakers.

When lobbying at the Wisconsin State Capitol, Helen brought her newborn son Jack — the fourth of seven children — with her to help remind legislators why the work mattered.

“Giving desperate parents a dignified, non-punitive option was not about politics, it was about saving lives,” she shared.

Helen’s efforts paid off: the law was signed by Governor Scott McCallum on April 3, 2001. After the bill passed, she served on the Rule-Making Authority Committee in Wisconsin to help shape how the law would work in practice and how hospitals, first responders and community partners would implement it.

Helen spent time working alongside Terry Walsh, the first executive director of Safe Place for Newborns, to focus on outreach and education. Together, they made sure the process was clearly understood and truly accessible.

In the first year, one baby was safely relinquished into the arms of a trained professional. Today, 25 years later, more than 400 newborn lives have been saved thanks to Safe Place for Newborns.

“When I hear that more than 400 babies have been safely relinquished instead of abandoned since 2001, I think about lives saved and the families that have adopted these babies,” Helen said. “Much of this is due to the amazing work of Tricia Burkett and Ascension Wisconsin. Seeing the ongoing outreach and education gives me hope, and their reach continues to grow and have a meaningful impact.”

About Helen Healy

Helen’s efforts and activism in the early 2000s made it possible for more than 400 babies to be safely relinquished into the arms of trained professionals. Today, Helen lives in Minnesota with her husband, Tim, where they serve as founders of Trinity Woods Catholic Retreat Center. They are the parents of seven children and the proud grandparents of four.