Newborn protection boxes established at Florence Fire and Emergency Services station
In a compassionate move towards supporting parents in crisis, a new Safe Haven Baby Box has been installed at the Florence Fire and EMS Headquarters in Kentucky. This secure and anonymous option for surrendering infants is part of the national Safe Haven Baby Boxes organization, founded by Monica Kelsey with the mission to end infant abandonment.
The Safe Haven Baby Boxes organization offers more than just baby boxes. It operates a 24/7 confidential national hotline (1-866-99BABY1) for support and resources, providing a lifeline for those in need. Since its inception in 2017, the organization has facilitated the safe and legal surrender of 63 infants through these boxes and 153 additional handoffs via the hotline.
The new baby box in Florence is a significant step forward in the organization's mission. It was made possible by the city administration and the Fire District, reflecting the community's commitment to providing compassionate alternatives to unsafe abandonment. Across the country, there are now over 370 Safe Haven Baby Box locations, with 56 in Kentucky alone.
The Safe Haven Baby Boxes program is more than just a physical location. It includes education and awareness campaigns, sharing stories of hope and resilience related to the safe surrender of infants. Local advocates play a crucial role in taking the organization's mission to their community.
Monica Kelsey, the founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, emphasizes the importance of preparation and having options for mothers in crisis. Surrendered infants are adopted by families who have registered as foster-to-adopt through local family services coordination.
The newest Safe Haven Baby Box will be unveiled on Thursday at 1:00 p.m at the Florence Fire and EMS Headquarters located at 8101 Dream St. This expansion of Safe Haven Baby Boxes continues the organization's efforts to provide a safe and anonymous alternative to surrendering an infant, offering hope and second chances for infants who might otherwise face danger.
[1] Safe Haven Baby Boxes Official Website: www.babyboxusa.org [2] Safe Haven Baby Boxes Wikipedia Page: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safe_Haven_Baby_Boxes [3] CNN Article on Safe Haven Baby Boxes: edition.cnn.com/2018/05/14/us/safe-haven-baby-boxes-controversy/index.html
- The Safe Haven Baby Box installed in Florence, Kentucky, is part of a network of over 370 locations across the nation, with 56 in Kentucky itself, showcasing the community's commitment to health-and-wellness, specifically family-health and mental-health, by providing a compassionate alternative for those in crisis looking to surrender infants anonymously.
- The Safe Haven Baby Boxes organization founded by Monica Kelsey is more than just baby boxes, extending their services to a 24/7 confidential national hotline (1-866-99BABY1) that offers support and resources within the realm of health-and-wellness, providing safety, and facilitating the safe and legal surrender of 63 infants through these boxes and 153 additional handoffs via the hotline.
- In her mission to end infant abandonment, Monica Kelsey emphasizes the importance of preparing parents-in-crisis, ensuring parenting resources are accessible, and providing a second chance for infants through the Safe Haven Baby Boxes program, which includes education and awareness initiatives, and the adoption of surrendered infants by adoptive families engaging with local family services coordination.
