Twenty-four newborns have been anonymously dropped off at one of the over 130 baby boxes and drawers the Safe Haven Organization has put up across nine states. Safe Haven gives women who choose to not care for or are not able to take care of their infants a place to anonymously give their babies a chance for life.
The first infant in Kentucky to be anonymously dropped off at one of the state’s safe surrender locations dubbed “baby boxes” was dropped off last week.
Monica Kelsey, CEO and founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, held a news conference on Friday, February 10, and announced that the infant had been dropped off at one of their locations within the week, the Bowling Green Fire Department.
Kelsey said that the fire department staff on duty tended to the child in less than 90 seconds when the child was dropped off.
Speaking at the conference, Kelsey said that the baby was found healthy, beautiful, and perfect, adding that social service agencies were finding a good forever home to place the child.
State Representative Nancy Tate was happy about the baby’s successful surrender as she spearheaded the bill to allow such baby boxes to be available in Kentucky.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signed the bill into law in 2021, allowing people to surrender infants younger than 30-days-old in baby boxes. According to the law, the baby boxes must be placed at fire stations, police stations, or hospitals open 24/7. The law also requires the boxes to be equipped with a notification system to notify first responders in the station or hospital that a child has been dropped off at the box.
There are 16 baby box locations in Kentucky, with the Bowling Green baby box only set up for two months.
The baby boxes are installed in the building’s exterior walls, and an exterior door automatically locks once a baby is placed. An interior door secures the baby from inside the building while a silent alarm lets staff members know that a baby has been surrendered.
Kelsey said the baby was safely, legally, and lovingly surrendered to the authorities. She praised the parent for taking the baby to the baby box instead of abandoning them.
Representative Tate said she wanted at least one box in every county in the state.