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Monica Kelsey, founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, speaks at Decatur Township Fire Department. The station will become Indiana's third Baby Box location, though the installation has been delayed by a week or two.
Sarah Panfil/WFYIA parent surrendered a newborn baby Sunday evening to firefighters at the Decatur Township Fire Department. Under the Indiana Safe Haven Law, passed in 2000, parents may anonymously surrender their unharmed newborn at any fire station without fear of criminal prosecution.
A new law that went into effect July 1 allows fire stations staffed 24 hours a day, like the one in Decatur Township, to install baby boxes.
A Safe Haven Baby Box is under construction at the station, but has been delayed by one to two weeks due to permit restrictions.
“We have reason to believe the parents were here looking for the baby box, didn’t find the baby box and surrendered to a person,” says Safe Haven Baby Box founder Monica Kelsey. “This baby could’ve ended up in a dumpster, but these parents cared enough to make sure this baby was placed in a safe place.”
The Decatur Township Fire Department will be Indiana’s third fire station equipped with a Safe Haven Baby Box. Kelsey says she believes the presence and awareness of Baby Boxes reduce the rate of baby abandonment.
Kelsey also says the most important message she wants to spread is that help is available. She says the presence of Baby Boxes strengthens the anonymity component of the Indiana Safe Haven Law, but they are still an emergency option.
The Safe Haven Baby Box organization also staffs a 24-hour hotline for parents in crisis.
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