Saving Babies From Abandonment in Kentucky

Michelle didn’t know she was pregnant until the day before she gave birth. The discovery was shocking. What was she going to do?

She did the unthinkable!

The next day, after she gave birth, she threw the baby in a dumpster and left it to die. Fortunately, someone found the baby, but Michelle is now in jail.

What if this story had a completely different ending? What if Michelle could have simply dropped the baby off at a local fire or police station, hospital, or EMS office? The baby would have been safe and placed for adoption. And Michelle wouldn’t be in jail.

Now, thanks to Kentucky’s new Safe Haven Law, this ending can be a reality for new mothers who have decided they’re not ready to take care of their babies.

House Bill 155, which legalized Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Kentucky, was passed and enacted in 2021. This law provides access to temperature-controlled boxes where new moms and dads can anonymously leave their newborn infants when they can’t care for their babies.

Monica Kelsey, who started Safe Haven Baby Boxes (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit), says, “All the parent has to do is open the door, place her uncharted newborn that is 30 days old or less inside the baby box, shut the door, and a series of alarms are already going off. She’s not going to hear anything.”

Kelsey says the first alarm sounds as the door opens. Once the baby is inside the box, a second alarm sounds. Then the box calls 9-1-1 on its own. If this happens at a fire station while the firefighters are away, dispatch notifies a nearby police officer or EMT to attend to the baby.

Since the box stays between 75 and 85 degrees at all times, the baby is safe and warm. Most importantly, babies stay inside for only two to three minutes at most before someone secures them.

The babies are then placed in an ambulance and taken to the hospital for evaluation. From there they enter a temporary foster home and are then placed for adoption within a couple of months. So far, 100% of the babies surrendered across the country have been adopted and are in permanent homes.

State Rep. Nancy Tate sponsored House Bill 155 and House Bill 442, which expanded the law so boxes could be placed at EMS facilities. Now, Rep. Tate is working with Kelsey to get the word out.

According to Rep. Tate, “We have 120 counties in Kentucky. The original bill was House Bill 155. So my goal is to have 155 boxes across the state—at least one in every county.”

To reach this goal, Rep. Tate is encouraging people across the state to become advocates for these boxes in their counties. “The first thing you have to do is go to your local judges and make sure they are aware that this service is available. County judges would be responsible for handling the paperwork with Safe Haven Baby Boxes. Once the paperwork is signed, staffing, training, and maintenance scheduling is put in place.” At least once a week the boxes must be tested to make sure all the buttons and alarms are working properly.

Since abortion is not legal in Kentucky, Rep. Tate says these boxes will save lives. “Sometimes families simply cannot take care of a newborn. We want to make sure they have every opportunity to do what’s best for that baby and for their family. Everyone should know that this service is available and accessible.”

Anyone interested in helping place a Safe Haven Baby Box in their county is encouraged to visit www.shbb.org for more information.

First Newborn Surrendered Anonymously in Kentucky

The Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Kentucky have saved their first baby. In early February 2023, just before this magazine went to press, a healthy newborn was surrendered anonymously in Bowling Green. This box was placed in December 2022.

Monica Kelsey, the executive director of Safe Haven Baby Boxes explained, “Each time we have an infant surrendered in one of our Baby Boxes, it is an affirmation that we need anonymous surrender options. We do not know when an infant will need to be surrendered and when that mother in crisis may want to protect her identity. However, we do know that being prepared is the safest option for this situation.

“This Baby Box location hasn’t been open for three months yet, but it was there when needed and that is the key. We know this infant was loved by their birth mother and will be quickly adopted by a family who has been eagerly awaiting a baby. We rejoice for the opportunity to make a positive outcome out of tough circumstances.”