Safe Haven or Adoption
If you’re pregnant and not in a position to raise a child — or another child — you still have the opportunity to make a thoughtful and loving choice for your baby’s future: adoption or Safe Haven surrender.
Safe Haven laws were established to give parents a safe and anonymous way to surrender their unharmed infant. These laws typically apply to babies from birth up to one year old, although the age limit varies by state. Parents can bring their baby to designated locations – such as hospitals, fire stations, police stations, or Safe Haven Baby Boxes – without fear of being prosecuted for baby abandonment.
These laws aim to reduce the unsafe abandonment of newborns, which can result in serious harm or death, by offering a secure and legal alternative for a parent who feels they cannot care for their baby.
Choosing Safe Haven allows you to remain completely anonymous. However, you will have no information about who is raising your child or how they are growing. Likewise, your child will have no knowledge of their birth family, any important family medical history, or the opportunity to develop a relationship with their birth parents.
Safe Haven vs Adoption: A Quick Comparison
| Feature | Safe Haven | Private Adoption |
| Anonymity | Fully anonymous; no fear of prosecution for abandonment | Birth and adoptive parents are known; relationships may be established |
| Infant’s Placement | No control over placement; infant may enter foster care with the possibility of multiple placements, or may be placed by an agency with a family not chosen by the birth parent | Direct placement with the chosen adoptive couple |
| Birth Parent’s Role | Not involved | Actively involved in the process |
| Choice of Adoptive Family | No | Yes; birth parents choose the adoptive family |
| Legal Representation | Not provided | Required for relinquishing parental rights |
| Counseling | Not included | Should be offered by the agency |
| Assistance with Pregnancy Related Expenses | None | Yes; varies by state law |
| Post-Adoption Contact with Adoptive Family | None | Possible; may include legally binding agreements |
| Reclaiming child | Extremely difficult, if possible, at all | Varies by state law and legal timeframe |
| Emotional Support | Not provided | Should be provided by the agency |
Safe Haven Surrender vs Safe Haven Baby Box Surrender
Many Safe Haven sites are easy to identify by signage. When surrendering your baby at a designated location, you must hand the baby to a staff member but are not required to give any identifying information. However, some designations are also equipped with Safe Haven Baby Boxes. These boxes offer an anonymous, secure and private way to surrender a newborn without having to interact with any official personnel.
If you decide to use a Baby Box location, it’s important to carefully follow the posted directions – placing a baby inside the box triggers an automatic alert so emergency personnel can respond immediately. Sadly, when proper steps aren’t taken, the consequences can result in the baby’s demise.
Get More Information About Adoption
This form is intended for pregnant women or women wanting to place their child for adoption after birth.
If you live outside of the U.S., please click here.
Lifetime Adoption, Inc. is a Licensed Child Placing Agency in Arkansas. (License AR #00050809)
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