AZ Safe Baby Haven Foundation Leadership

Heather Burner is a registered nurse with more than 24 years of healthcare experience and has dedicated over 16 years to advancing the mission of Safe Baby Haven programs in Arizona and across the nation. She served as Executive Director of Arizona Safe Baby Haven for more than 15 years and most recently held the role of Executive Director for the National Safe Haven Alliance.

Throughout her career, Heather has developed extensive knowledge and experience surrounding Safe Haven laws, crisis response, parent support, and provider education. Her work has focused on creating compassionate, life-saving alternatives to infant abandonment while advocating for increased awareness, education, and community support for parents facing desperate circumstances.

Heather’s passion for this mission is deeply personal. After experiencing the tragic and unnecessary loss of a newborn firsthand, she committed her life to helping protect vulnerable infants and ensuring parents have access to safe, supportive resources during times of crisis. Her leadership and advocacy have helped countless newborns find safety, care, and forever homes.

Known for her compassionate and servant-hearted approach, Heather has worked tirelessly to support mothers, families, healthcare professionals, and communities through education, outreach, and direct support initiatives. In addition to her professional leadership, she has served in numerous volunteer roles dedicated to creating a safer, more caring community.

Heather is also a devoted wife, mother of three children, and grandmother, whose lifelong commitment to service continues to inspire those around her.

Lisa is a licensed social worker with over 19 years of professional experience in clinical practice, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed care. 

She earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from Arizona State University and has taught within the university system for over 15 years. Ms. Schenk worked for over 19 years as a social worker in a Level I Trauma Center Emergency Department, providing critical care, crisis response, and support to individuals and families during acute medical and psychological emergencies. 

Lisa is dedicated to educating communities nationwide on infant abandonment prevention and supporting families in crisis. Lisa is deeply committed to serving her community and believes it is a privilege to walk alongside individuals and families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Will Burner has served with Arizona Safe Baby Haven for more than 14 years as Liaison Officer, bringing decades of leadership, public safety, and emergency response experience to the organization’s mission. His extensive background and commitment to community service have played an important role in strengthening collaboration between Safe Baby Haven programs and first responders throughout Arizona.

Will earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Arizona State University’s College of Public Programs and began his more than 30-year public safety career as a Police Officer. He currently serves as a Battalion Chief and Paramedic with a municipal Fire Department and has participated in emergency response efforts nationally through the Incident Command System.

With deep knowledge of Police, Fire, and EMS culture and operations, Will has been instrumental in fostering relationships, education, and awareness among emergency service providers regarding Safe Haven laws and infant protection initiatives. His experience in leadership, crisis response, and public safety coordination provides invaluable support to Arizona Safe Baby Haven’s mission to prevent infant abandonment and ensure safe alternatives for parents in crisis.

In addition to his professional service, Will is a devoted husband, father, and grandfather whose dedication to protecting and serving the community continues to guide his work both professionally and personally.

Darien Gibson is a firefighter and paramedic with a municipal Fire Department and has more than 10 years of experience in emergency response, patient care, and crisis intervention. He also holds a degree in Criminal Justice, further strengthening his understanding of public safety, crisis response, and community support services. Through his dedication to public service and compassionate care, he has worked extensively to support individuals and families during some of life’s most critical moments.

In addition to his professional experience, Darien brings a deeply personal perspective to the mission of Safe Baby Haven programs. Becoming a father at 15 profoundly shaped his life and inspired his commitment to being a devoted parent, mentor, and advocate for families facing difficult circumstances. His lived experience provides unique insight, empathy, and understanding for young parents and individuals experiencing crisis situations.

Darien has dedicated himself to educating Safe Haven providers on compassionate, safe, and trauma-informed responses when a parent surrenders an infant. His combined experience in emergency services, criminal justice, and personal advocacy allows him to connect meaningfully with providers, first responders, and families while helping further the mission of preventing infant abandonment and ensuring safe alternatives for parents in need.