Safe Haven Reports Three Infant Surrenders In 30 Days
News Release
WOODBURN — Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc., announced the surrender of three babies under the Safe Haven law in the last 30 days. One of the three involved a case in Kosciusko County.
Two of the babies were placed in Safe Haven Baby Boxes and one newborn was handed to a staff member at a Safe Haven location. All three babies are healthy and safe.
The surrenders happened in Kosciusko and Allen counties in Indiana, and Saline County in Arizona.
Since 2016, Safe Haven Baby Boxes has assisted 76 women with surrendering their newborns and eight babies have been placed in safe haven baby boxes with the help of the National Hotline (1-866-99BABY1). Click here for Safe Haven Baby Box locations.
The Safe Haven Law allows a person to surrender a healthy newborn 30 days old or younger without fear of criminal prosecution. Eight babies have been placed in Safe Haven Baby Boxes, with four of them surrendered in 2020 alone.
“We know the Safe Haven Baby Boxes program is working to end infant abandonment and save lives. Our organization has had a record number of surrenders in the last 30 days in a baby box or with the assistance of Safe Haven Baby Boxes National Crisis Hotline. Indiana has also not had a deceased infant from abandonment since we installed the first Safe Haven Baby Box in April 2016,” said Monica Kelsey, Founder and CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes strives to ensure the safety of women and their newborns by providing resources and ending shame. Thursday June 11, 2020, a new baby box will go into operation at the Kokomo Fire Station and on June 12, 2020, a baby box will go live in Margaret Mary Hospital in Batesville. These baby boxes will help to ensure the safety of newborns in their communities. These baby boxes will be the 28th and the 29th in the country.
Parents considering a surrender are encouraged to call the Safe Haven Crisis Line (1-866-99Baby1) to speak with a licensed counselor.
Nationwide, the organization has assisted 76 women and children through their program. Indiana is one of five states with updated Safe Haven laws to offer a completely anonymous option in an effort to eliminate infant abandonment.
If you have questions please direct them to at [email protected]