In a move aimed at providing distressed mothers with anonymous options, three new Safe Haven Baby Boxes are set to be unveiled in Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. WKRN reports the addition of these boxes, bringing the total to 275 across 17 states.
These newly installed boxes offer an avenue for mothers in crisis to surrender their infants safely without direct interaction with first responders. Murfreesboro Fire Rescue in Tennessee will house one of the boxes; an opening event will be held this Thursday, Oct. 16 with personnel trained in its operation. According to WKRN's statement obtained by Murfreesboro Fire Rescue, the box will be regularly tested to ensure its proper functionality.
Additionally, a report by FOX17 indicates the blessing of Tennessee's 11th box located in Murfreesboro and the subsequent blessing of the 12th box in Tullahoma, set for this week. The initiative underscores the ongoing commitment to provide safe surrender sites for infants.
The boxes combat the issue of infant abandonment by offering a secure drop-off that alerts first responders once a baby is placed inside. "The Safe Haven Baby Box in Murfreesboro would not have been possible without the local advocates who worked tirelessly to bring this resource to their community," Safe Haven lauded in a statement shared by Rutherford Source. Over 52 infants have been surrendered since the inception of the program in 2017, with Safe Haven Baby Boxes demonstrating their effectiveness in providing a crucial service to vulnerable members of the community.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes, founded by Monica Kelsey, not only aims to prevent infant abandonment but also assists with handoff surrenders through its National Hotline. "We never know when or where we will be needed, so it is crucial to have options for mothers in crisis," Kelsey expressed, as reported by Rutherford Source. The organization has facilitated over 150 handoff surrenders, with each one ensuring that the infants surrendered are provided an opportunity for a loving and secure future. In Kentucky, another Baby Box opens at Glasgow Fire Department, marking continued expansion of this vital service.
