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A newborn baby was safely surrendered at a Safe Haven Baby Box in Hendersonville, Tennessee, last week, marking the third such surrender in the state since it started utilizing baby boxes.
Key Takeaways:
An infant was safely surrendered at a baby box in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
The surrender was the first at its location since its installation in April 2024, and the third in the state.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes are available in many states and allow parents a safe, anonymous option for surrendering a child under the state’s safe haven laws.
The Details:
The surrender marks the first time the baby box at Hendersonville Fire Station #5 was used since its installation in April 2024. It’s the third time a baby box has been used in the state. According to WKRN, firefighters responded immediately to rescue the infant inside and provided care.
Hendersonville Mayor Jamie Clary issued a news release praising the box’s role in helping the infant:
Very unfortunately, Hendersonville was the home of a mother who suffocated her newborn twins more than 10 years ago. As an adoptee and Mayor, I wanted to help struggling parents like her and enable new lives for babies through adoption.
When Safe Haven approached me, I envisioned the baby box as a life-saving gift. Our city board approved the request, and we installed the box at a fire hall adjacent to our hospital less than two years ago. I cannot praise our firefighters and ambulance staff enough for their care of the baby who recently began a new life in their hands.
The Hendersonville Fire Department also praised the courage of the parent(s) who made the difficult choice to utilize the box.
“For the first time, our Safe Haven Baby Box was used—an act that took immense courage and strength from a family facing an incredibly difficult decision,” the department wrote on social media. “This moment is not about us or anyone else. It is about the parents—who, in the midst of unimaginable emotion, chose to place the well-being of their child above all else. We can only imagine the weight of that decision and the love it took to make it. Our hearts are with them.”
How it Works:
Each state has a safe haven law that allows parents the chance to surrender a child they feel unable to care for. According to the state’s Department of Children’s Services, the Tennessee law “allows mothers of newborns to surrender unharmed babies to designated facilities within two weeks of birth without fear of being prosecuted. As long as the baby is unharmed and the child is surrendered within two weeks of birth, the mother — or parents — will not be prosecuted and is assured of complete confidentiality.”
Safe Haven Baby Boxes allow parents an additional layer of anonymity when it comes to utilizing a safe haven law. The box is often installed along the outside wall of a fire station or hospital, and includes a safe locking system, temperature-controlled bassinet, and a silent alarm that alerts authorities the moment a child is placed inside. The baby is then rescued within minutes.
While all states have Safe Haven laws, not all have approved the installation of baby boxes.
The Bottom Line:
“This is our 3rd baby box baby in Tennessee. We are proud of the many communities that have prioritized being prepared for safe surrender across the state. Local leaders are protecting these women in crisis by placing baby boxes, and now we have another safe infant,” said Monica Kelsey, founder of Safe Haven Baby Box.
“Surrender is an act of sacrificial love, and we know this mother had great intent for her child that she couldn’t currently provide. We also are here to offer support post-surrender with counseling for the mother should she choose to reach out.”
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Human Interest·By Bridget Sielicki
