It’s been two years since Florida launched its Safe Haven Baby Box initiative and for the first time, someone left a newborn inside.
Earlier this week, on Jan 5, the Ocala Fire Rescue announced this news in a press release citing the arrival of its first surrendered newborn.
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Florida’s Only Safe Haven
The Safe Haven Baby Box initiative in Ocala, Florida, launched in 2020, is a way for parents and/or guardians to provide a better life for their children when incapacitated. They can drop the baby off anonymously and the city would put the child up for adoption.
The First Florida Baby
The first arrival on Jan 5 kickstarts the initiative in Florida and may very well be the precursor to more voluntary baby relinquishments. Fire Chief Clint Welborn stated during a press conference that the wheels are already in motion for the newborn’s adoption.
Medical Checkup For The Newborn
They took the baby to the hospital for a comprehensive check-up before putting them up for adoption. The Safe Haven Baby Box founder, Monica Kelsey, revealed that this newborn is number 23 in a short list of legally surrendered babies, despite being Florida’s first.
Thanking The Parents
Kelsey joined the press conference and spoke to the guardian who surrendered the baby via broadcast saying,
Giving Up A Baby Is Hard
Kelsey acknowledged that giving up a biological baby is never an easy decision so she wanted the parent or guardian to know the child was in safe hands. She also implored them to make peace with their decision to avoid complications later.
The Process Is Safe
Kelsey described the Safe Haven Baby Box process saying it’s secure and non-risky for the infants as the locked door sends a signal to the firefighters in its vicinity. Hence, babies don’t stay longer than 2 minutes in the box.
Boxes Scattered Across The U.S.
The Baby Box in Ocala, Florida, is one of 134 pieces scattered around America and it was launched in 2020. The initiative, however, has been going strong since four years prior in Indiana but received its first newborn in 2017.
Due Diligence For Adoption
The adoption process is legal, as the company does due diligence before giving up the babies in their care. Per Kelsey’s Instagram updates, a police officer once adopted one of the infants.
Baby Hatches Are In Hospitals And Fire Stations
Kelsey had always known people would use the box, so she continued to wait even when it seemed the initiative would flop. They placed boxes at strategic locations like fire stations and hospitals; places vulnerable guardians can easily access.
More Baby Boxes Coming To Indiana
Kelsey and the team plan to mount more Baby Boxes across America, especially in her hometown, Indiana, despite the city holding 92 boxes of 134.
Host Towns Pay A Yearly Recertification Fee
The Baby Box host town pays the organization a token fee of $200 – $300 per annum for certification and maintenance. Despite its success in the last five to six years, these Safe Haven Baby Boxes remain controversial in the U.S.
Voluntary Baby Surrender Isn’t New
People are still wary of a process enshrouded in anonymity, saying the parents could change their minds later. Kelsey defended her initiative, saying it’s no new invention as it was already practiced in South Africa before she adapted it in the U.S.
Safe Haven In Texas
Safe Haven laws exist in several American states including Texas yet the number of voluntarily surrendered infants since it’s passing in 2009 is an abysmal 172.
A New Dawn
With the newborn surrendered early this year, more people may embrace the process moving forward.
