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OPELIKA, Ala. – The City of Opelika and the Opelika Fire Department will debut the newly installed Safe Haven Baby Box today at Station 1.
Station 1 now features a Safe Haven Baby Box and serves as the first operational infant surrender box in Lee County available to serve women in crisis 24/7. Including the Opelika location, there are nine BabyBox locations in Alabama. The box is conveniently located on the side of the building facing South 7th Street in Opelika.
“The Safe Haven Baby Box provides a critical resource to our community, especially for the most delicate of our numbers. We hope if ever the situation calls for use of the Safe Haven location at Fire Station 1, any family in crisis can be assured their child will be cared for by the trained hands of the Opelika Fire Department,” says Chief Shane Boyd.
Monica Kelsey founded Safe Haven Baby Boxes in 2016 after discovering that her temperature-controlled was abandoned as an infant. The organization is dedicated to safeguarding families in crisis and their newborns, striving to eradicate infant abandonment. Central to its mission is the Safe Haven Baby Box, which enables mothers to legally surrender their babies anonymously. This option is available in states that have modified their Safe Haven Laws to permit Baby Box placements. Through their National Hotline, 1-866-99BABY1, the organization offers free and confidential counseling, tailored to the specifics of each state’s Safe Haven Law. Education plays a pivotal role in Safe Haven Baby Boxes’ mission, empowering individuals with knowledge and resources.
Should a woman opt to surrender her infant through the Baby Box, the door automatically locks when she closes it. Alarms promptly notify the designated location of the baby’s surrender, prompting the Opelika Fire Department to retrieve the infant from the temperature controlled box within minutes. Following retrieval, the infant undergoes immediate medical evaluation at the hospital and is soon placed with their adoptive family.
“Opelika Fire Department is committed to delivering life-saving services throughout our community.
Collaborating with the Safe Haven team, Kids to Love, and East Alabama Medical Center enables us to serve the City of Opelika in a profoundly impactful manner. We are now part of the expanding network of Safe Haven Baby Box locations nationwide. Our First Responders undergo specialized training in infant critical care and the Safe Haven Law, allowing us to offer support to anonymous mothers in crisis,” said Boyd.