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Safe Haven Baby Boxes founder Monica Kelsey was on hand to celebrate Michael’s adoption.

“In early February, we stood right here talking about a newborn baby boy who was surrendered legally, safely, lovingly and anonymously by a parent who wanted more for him,” she said.

The Safe Haven Baby Box organization offers temperature-controlled, alarmed ‘boxes’ where an infant can be surrendered in accordance with a state’s safe haven laws. The boxes are often installed in the exterior of fire departments, like the one in Belen. When a child is placed inside the baby box, an alarm is triggered and emergency responders retrieve the child within just a few minutes. In New Mexico, as long as the child is unharmed, there are no ramifications for safely surrendering the child within 90 days of birth.

Ideally, Safe Haven Baby Boxes allow a parent to surrender a child anonymously — something Kelsey stresses is important in helping to eliminate the stigma attached with a selfless surrender. She stresses that the ability to surrender anonymously allows more mothers to choose life.

However, New Mexico state law currently requires a parent to identify themselves to authorities, even if they’ve utilized the box. Lawmakers in the state are working to pass legislation that would allow for anonymous surrender.

“We need to fix it. We need to give these women anonymity and allow them to surrender their children safely, instead of throwing their babies in dumpsters like Hobbs,” Kelsey said last year, referring to a 2022 infant abandonment in another New Mexico city.

Safe Haven Baby Boxes founder Monica Kelsey was on hand to celebrate Michael’s adoption.

“In early February, we stood right here talking about a newborn baby boy who was surrendered legally, safely, lovingly and anonymously by a parent who wanted more for him,” she said.

The Safe Haven Baby Box organization offers temperature-controlled, alarmed ‘boxes’ where an infant can be surrendered in accordance with a state’s safe haven laws. The boxes are often installed in the exterior of fire departments, like the one in Belen. When a child is placed inside the baby box, an alarm is triggered and emergency responders retrieve the child within just a few minutes. In New Mexico, as long as the child is unharmed, there are no ramifications for safely surrendering the child within 90 days of birth.

Ideally, Safe Haven Baby Boxes allow a parent to surrender a child anonymously — something Kelsey stresses is important in helping to eliminate the stigma attached with a selfless surrender. She stresses that the ability to surrender anonymously allows more mothers to choose life.

However, New Mexico state law currently requires a parent to identify themselves to authorities, even if they’ve utilized the box. Lawmakers in the state are working to pass legislation that would allow for anonymous surrender.

“We need to fix it. We need to give these women anonymity and allow them to surrender their children safely, instead of throwing their babies in dumpsters like Hobbs,” Kelsey said last year, referring to a 2022 infant abandonment in another New Mexico city.

Bridget Sielicki

Bridget Sielicki