Comment: National Council For Adoption's Response to the Texas Safe Haven Study

Abstract

The author responds to a study on the effectiveness of Texas's Safe Haven law. More than 1,000 newborns nationwide have been placed safely under Safe Haven laws, and this number includes only the documented cases in 36 of the 48 states that have enacted such laws. The author agrees that further study of Safe Haven laws is needed because many states with Safe Haven policies have not accurately monitored or documented the number of infants safely relinquished, and data to measure usage and effectiveness of Safe Haven programs are lacking. In addition, states would benefit from studies of at-risk parents, which might lead to more effective messages that would reach these parents before abandonment takes place. All states with Safe Haven policies must recognize the need for increased funding of public awareness campaigns to educate residents about Safe Haven laws.