Safe Haven Baby Boxes saving lives in the US

Abandoned babies in Alabama are being given a second chance at life, thanks to the Safe Haven Baby Boxes initiative.

Parents can safely and anonymously surrender their newborn if they feel unable to care for their child by placing them in a designated location, typically a fire station. In Alabama, three children have been saved in the first four months.

The first box in the state was installed after an 18-year-old mother discarded her newborn in a skip, where he later died.

Last resort

When a baby is placed inside a Safe Haven box, the compartment locks and a silent alarm is triggered, allowing a first responder to reach the child within minutes.

The boxes have been set up as a last resort for women, and they are accompanied by information about support and resources available to them, such as free counselling.

Addressing one of the parents who anonymously surrendered their baby, founder Monica Kelsey said: “Thank you for keeping your child safe. Thank you for entrusting the Madison fire department to take it from here.

“Your baby was picked up in a matter of minutes. Your baby is safe. Your baby is healthy. Your baby was legally surrendered.”

Mixed response

Some critics have said the boxes might perpetuate the problem, but Kelsey said the work of Safe Haven Baby Boxes “offers hope to mothers in crisis”, and Madison Fire and Rescue spokesman Dan Pickens says they are vital.

Prior to installing the first box, he explained: “The main purpose of the fire station is life saving. If this box saves one child in 20 years, that’s one child that made it because this box is available. That’s worth it to us”.

Others raised concerns about the children’s futures in the care system, but once rescued, the babies are likely to be adopted by a family within 30 to 45 days, with officials at the Department of Child Services organising the process.

Lee Marshall, the founder of a non-profit group Kids to Love, which was instrumental in getting baby boxes legally approved in Alabama, said: “This mother made a difficult and courageous decision when she placed her child in Madison’s Safe Haven Baby Box. We are thankful it was there for her when she needed it.”

Life-saving

This year, a baby in Montgomery became the 50th child in the country to be left in such a box.

County Fire Captain Zachary Adams stated: “Words cannot describe it. We weren’t expecting this. I truthfully thought the box would never be used.”

After two infants were surrendered in the city, Mayor Frank Scott Jr thanked those who made the existence of the baby box possible, while commenting: “it is unfortunate that these are necessary”.