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'Baby box' in Missouri sees first surrender

The Safe Haven Baby Box allows for the legal safe surrender of a baby with complete anonymity.

MEHLVILLE, Mo. — The first baby has been surrendered at Missouri’s first and only baby box location. 

The baby, who was several hours old, was put into the box on Feb. 8, the Mehlville Fire chief said at a news conference on Monday. The baby is safe and doing well after being put under the care of the state for adoption.

The Safe Haven Baby Box is located at Mehlville Fire Protection District House 2 in south St. Louis County. The baby box was revealed at this firehouse in August of 2023, and the fire chief said the district plans on installing another one at Firehouse 5. The goal is to have it ready by the end of next year.

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The baby's information was subsequently put into the missing and exploited database, in case the child's other parent wanted to file for reunification with the child.

Monica Kelsey, CEO and founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, said so far, the child has not been reported missing.

Mehlville’s surrender is the fourth one in the country since the start of 2024. There are 200 Safe Haven Baby Box locations across the United States. 

Kelsey said they held the press conference to thank the parent who surrendered the child and let them know there are resources for them including counseling and medical care. The firehouse also wanted to use the opportunity to let others know the baby box is an available resource and let people know the box works.

Fire Chief Brian Hendricks said they tested the box every week and while the firefighters were shocked when the alarm went off, he said everything went smoothly.

The Safe Haven Baby Box allows for the legal safe surrender of a baby with complete anonymity.

“MFPD is committed to making a difference in the lives of those we serve and safeguarding the most vulnerable members of our community,” Hendricks said. “The surrender of a baby to us is an example of how we make that difference, and this act protects not only the life of the infant but also that of the birth mother who entrusted us with the care of her child.” 

Safe Haven Baby Boxes was formed in 2016, as Kelsey learned she was abandoned as an infant. 

“We have this location that months ago invested in this program that has already seen it pay dividends," Kelsey said. "The key is that we are prepared for this situation, not reactionary. We are proud of this selfless mother and grateful for her trusting us to help her and her infant.” 

If someone chooses to surrender their infant in the baby box, the door locks once the door closes. Alarms alert the location that a baby has been surrendered and personnel will retrieve the infant within five minutes. The infant will immediately be transported to the hospital for medical evaluation and will be with its adoptive family soon after. 

Families that want to adopt a Safe Haven baby should reach out to their local Department of Family Services to register for foster care.

The organization also has a National Hotline, 1-866-99BABY1. The hotline provides free, confidential counseling with expertise in each state’s Safe Haven Law.

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