An unplanned pregnancy can be overwhelming. It;s not just the surprise and shock of discovering you’re pregnant. There are also so many things you have to learn about, take care of, and think about as your pregnancy progresses. People in your life may be helpful, or they might not. Getting support and healthcare might seem overwhelming, and keeping up with school or work can be tough. At some points, it might seem like it’s all just more than you can cope with. So making decisions about the baby’s future may feel like too much. With the best will in the world, you might figure you can always deal with the baby when it arrives, and put off thinking about what to do until then. Baby Boxes and Safe Haven laws can make it feel like you don’t really have to make decisions ahead of time.
Baby Boxes in Arkansas
Baby Boxes are designated safe places where a parent can drop off a baby anonymously. The baby will be kept safe inside the box and staff at the location will get a message that a baby has been placed in the Baby Box. The staff person will come and retrieve the baby right away and care for him or her.
Parents may drop off a baby in a Baby Box during the first 30 days of the child’s life. They do not have to stay or to talk to anyone.
The Department of Human Services has a list of all the Baby Boxes in Arkansas. Take an infant 30 days or younger to any of these locations and you can use the Baby Box with confidence.
Safe Haven laws in Arkansas
In addition to the Baby Boxes, you can also drop an infant off with a worker at a hospital emergency room, a fire department, or a law enforcement office such as a police station or sheriff’s office. There is no penalty for doing this and you do not have to give any information. You can fill out a voluntary information sheet if you choose to do so.
The purpose of the Safe Haven law is to prevent abandonment of infants. Abandoning an infant — leaving a baby on a doorstep, for example — is very dangerous. Fewer than half of abandoned babies survive. Safe Haven laws provide a safer option for parents who don’t feel ready to parent their child. The child will be cared for and placed in the foster system.
Other choices
If you’re expecting a baby and you’re not sure you’re ready to bring that baby up yourself, consider adoption. It’s a brave and loving choice, and it provides a better outcome for your child. Many kids in the foster system do not find permanent homes. Yet there are many couples who want to grow their families through adoption.
Contacting an adoption professional such as an adoption lawyer before the baby is born allows you to make decisions about your baby, from the birth process to the family who will adopt the child. You will receive support and assistance with medical care, and you can have continued contact with your child if you choose an open adoption.
Considering adoption early on in the pregnancy gives you and your child more options for the future. Call Heimer Law with your questions about adoption, or fill out our simple form and we will get in touch with you.
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