Across America, thousands of foster parents and children are granted court-ordered visitation time. These visits are precious, often the only lifeline holding a family together through one of the most painful experiences a human being can face.
And then they arrive to a DHS office. Plastic chairs. Fluorescent lights. A caseworker with a clipboard. The visit technically happens. But real connection is nearly impossible.
"You cannot rebuild a family in a conference room. You need a couch. A kitchen. A yard where a child can run and forget, for just an hour, that their world was turned upside down."
That is what Laura Caldwell believed in 2013 when she founded New Start. That belief became Safe Haven.
Comfortable seating, natural light. A space that does not feel like an institution, because it is not one.
A parent can cook their child's favorite meal. That one act does more than any structured program ever could.
Children need to run and shout. A yard gives kids permission to be kids, even on the hardest days.
Age-appropriate toys, books, and items that make a child feel safe, engaged, and at ease.
"The first time we used Safe Haven, my daughter ran straight to the bookshelf. She forgot to be scared. That is everything."
We serve foster parents, biological parents, caseworkers, and children throughout the River Valley. No family should have to earn dignity.
Foster families hosting court-ordered visits use Safe Haven as a warm, home-like environment that supports healthy, meaningful connection.
Parents working toward reunification deserve visits that support the bond they are fighting to rebuild, not a setting that undermines it.
We coordinate directly with DHS and family services professionals to schedule visits in a trusted, monitored, home-like environment.
Whether you are a foster family, a caseworker, or a parent seeking reunification support, reach out. We will walk you through everything and get you scheduled.
Contact Us to ScheduleOr call Laura directly: (479) 430-3529
Safe Haven runs entirely on donations and volunteers. One gift keeps the lights on, the kitchen stocked, and the door open for the next family who needs it.
Donate to Safe Haven$60 funds one complete visitation session