The Safe Haven Law allows a parent to legally surrender a newborn baby to a fire station or hospital within 72 hours of birth. Provided the baby is unharmed, there are no questions asked and it remains confidential.
We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing infant abandonment by teaching about the Safe Haven Law. Our vision is to protect desperate parents, unwanted newborns and the community from the tragedy of an abandoned baby through awareness of the Colorado Safe Haven Law.
Executive Director
Whitney Vaughn is a Colorado native, born and raised in the mountain town of Eagle, CO. Whitney takes advantage of any situation to help others. She enjoys engaging with her community and truly making it a better place. Whitney joined Colorado Safe Haven for Newborns with the intent and passion to help the lives of others. Whitney is married to a firefighter so this cause feels very close to home.
Board President
Jodi is the heartbeat of Colorado Safe Haven for Newborns. She worked 20 years as a TV news reporter and was most recently seen on CBS4 in Denver. She is a founding member of Colorado Save Haven for Newborns. In 1998, Jodi was instrumental in creating Alabama’s Secret Safe Place for Newborns program and in passing Alabama’s legislation which was one of the first Safe Haven laws in the nation.
Maria Zamarripa is a registered dietitian and loves to explore all of Colorado’s beauty with her husband. Maria joined Colorado Safe Haven in memory of their daughter, Sadie, and as a way to make a positive impact in the community and support other families during the most difficult of times.
Susie McKinney brings her vast experience in Event Management and Volunteer Coordination to the Board with the goal of growing Safe Haven's reach. Susie joined the Safe Haven Board to pair her charitable giving with specific action. She believes deeply in the mission of Safe Haven, and in making a positive difference in the lives of young women. Susie resides in Lakewood with Mike, her husband of 21 years.
Jill O’Brien is originally from Michigan and moved to Colorado in 2015. Jill is a stay at home mom. Before becoming ‘CEO’ of the O’Brien household, Jill started her career as an elementary school teacher and she spends a great deal of her time volunteering at Lone Tree Elementary. Jill joined Colorado Safe Haven for Newborns because helping others, especially kids, is the heart and soul of Jill’s life!
Nikki DeLaTorre is a native of Colorado. She grew up in Littleton and still lives close by where she was raised. Nikki has been a hair dresser for 20 years and loves what she does because there’s is nothing more rewarding than making someone feel good about themselves. Nikki is married with 1 daughter and is currently waiting on their next baby through a local adoption agency. Nikki joined Safe Haven because she felt the need to give back and help others learn about the Safe Haven Law.
Marisa Meyer-Stein works in provider experience and marketing for Optum, part of UnitedHealth Group. The thing she loves most about her job is that every day presents an opportunity to improve experiences and lifelong health outcomes, while discovering new ways to make healthcare more affordable. Colorado Safe Haven for Newborns is a natural fit for Marisa, as she can continue her passion of helping people achieve healthier lives