Some families, for whatever the reason, are unable to take care of their child.
Indiana has recently decided to solve this problem by installing “baby boxes” where mothers can anonymously drop off unwanted newborns as an extension of the state’s safe haven law.
A total of two safe haven baby boxes were opened to the public at Indiana fire stations as part of an initiative to give mothers in a crisis a secure place to surrender their babies. Monica Kelsey is a volunteer firefighter and founder of the nonprofit organization that created the boxes, and she told NBC News:
“I was abandoned as an infant back in 1973, so I’ve always been very close to the safe haven law.”
The first box was installed last week on the exterior wall of the fire department in Woodburn. When a person opens the baby box, a call is immediately placed to 911 and fire and medical personnel are dispatched to the scene. The box automatically locks when a person leaves the child and shuts the door.
The box is padded and climate controlled to keep the baby warm while still allowing air circulation. It’s also equipped with motion sensors that trigger a second 911 call after detecting movement inside, Kelsey told NBC.
Once medical officials arrive they will look the baby over and transport him or her to a local hospital for evaluation. The child is then placed in the custody of Indiana’s Child Protective Services.
While Kelsey says that they have yet to receive any abandoned babies through the boxes, they have received dozens of calls through their nonprofit hotline this week. One of the calls resulted in a “safe surrender” in another state. “Of the 95 yesterday, we had one save,” she said. “That’s a win.”
All 50 states have passed safe haven legislation, according to the Children’s Bureau of the Administration for Children and Families.
Kelsey is committed to focusing on getting the word out about the safe haven boxes and other services available to women, and say:
“The boxes are literally a last resort. They’re the last line of defense that we are going to give these women.”
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[Featured Image Credit: Chad Ryan- The Journal Gazette via AP]
Indiana Installs ‘Safe Haven Baby Boxes’ For Abandoned New Borns is an article from: LifeDaily