Safe Haven Baby Box used for first time in Wisconsin

Wisconsin officials have announced that a baby has been safely surrendered in a Safe Haven Baby Box for the first time since use of the boxes was legalized in 2023. A baby was placed in a designated baby box at a local fire station

Key Takeaways:

• The infant surrender in Racine, Wisconsin, is the first in the state since a law legalizing Safe Haven Baby Boxes passed in 2023.

• The boxes give parents an option for safe and anonymous surrender, with the assurance that the child will be placed in an adoptive home.

The Details:

The Racine Fire Department announced that a baby girl was successfully surrendered in a Safe Haven Baby Box on October 16 at Racine Fire Station Four, around 12:15 p.m. She appeared to be in good health and was immediately cared for by first responders and medical professionals. The infant is now in the care of child protective services as an adoptive home is sought for her.

“This mother’s decision was not abandonment—it was an act of love,” said Monica Kelsey, founder and CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes. “She chose life. She chose safety. She chose hope.”

The surrender is the first in the state involving the use of a Safe Haven Baby Box, thanks to a 2023 law allowing anonymous surrender using the boxes. Although the state has had a 'safe haven' law allowing infant surrender since 2001, the updated 2023 law allowed for anonymous surrender specifically using the boxes — something advocates say is necessary for parents who may be hesitant to surrender their child face-to-face.

According to WISN, there are currently seven Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Wisconsin.

How it Works:

The Safe Haven Baby Box (SHBB) organization installs temperature-controlled boxes into facilities such as fire stations and hospitals in states around the country.

The boxes are designed to allow a parent to surrender an infant safely and anonymously, per the particular state's safe haven law. When an infant is placed inside, a silent alarm is triggered, and first responders attend to the child within minutes. The baby is later placed for adoption.

In addition to overseeing the boxes, SHBB also operates a 24-hour hotline (1-866-99BABY1), which provides help and support to parents in crisis. The organization's ultimate goal is to curtail infant abandonments, which occur with alarming frequency.

The Bottom Line:

Safe Haven Baby Boxes provide a safe option for mothers and fathers who feel unequipped to parent, but who still choose life for their children. As this situation demonstrates, laws allowing for anonymous surrender empower these parents to surrender their infants safely.