A baby was surrendered recently in a Safe Haven Baby Box in Collins, Mississippi, marking the second infant surrender at this location since the installation of the baby box in May 2024.
Key Takeaways:
- The infant was safely surrendered under Mississippi’s Safe Haven law, which allows surrenders of children seven days old or younger.
- The surrender took place in a Safe Haven Baby Box in Collins, which was installed in May 2024.
- It was the second surrender at this location.
The Details:
The baby was surrendered in a baby box located in Covington County Hospital in Collins, Mississippi — the second time the box has been utilized since its installation. The infant appeared to be in stable condition, but was transferred to Batson Children’s Hospital in Jackson for further care.
Local news outlets aren’t sharing many more details of the story in order to protect the parents’ privacy; Safe Haven Baby Boxes are often used because they offer parents true anonymity, as accorded by law.
Monica Kelsey, founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, confirmed the surrender in a statement.
“We have seen this location be a vital resource for this community now twice. It is proof that preparation and anonymity are key to safe surrender. When a mother surrenders, she is choosing an anonymous closed adoption out of sacrificial love for her infant, and we are proud of her. This infant will soon be with a family who has been eager to adopt,” she said.
David Culpepper, Director of Marketing and Communications at Covington County Hospital, is pleased that the box existed to help a family in need.
“This is exactly why the Safe Haven Baby Box exists — to provide a safe, anonymous option for parents in crisis,” Culpepper said. “We are thankful the system worked as intended and that this child is now in safe hands receiving the care they need.”
How It Works:
The Safe Haven Baby Boxes organization places its boxes in fire stations and hospitals around the country. When a child is placed inside the temperature-controlled “box,” the outside door automatically locks to ensure the baby is safe. An alarm is then triggered, alerting authorities to the baby’s presence, and the infant is rescued within minutes.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes operate in accordance with each state’s “safe haven” laws. Sometimes referred to as “Baby Moses” laws, these laws allow a parent who feels unable to care for their newborn the opportunity to surrender that child to state authorities with no questions asked.
In Mississippi, any infant who is seven days old or younger can legally be relinquished.
The Bottom Line:
Safe Haven Baby Boxes are designed to help curtail detail infant abandonments, and are a safe, legal option for families in crisis.
Parents in need can call Safe Haven Baby Boxes at 1-866-99BABY1 for assistance, or call the 24/7 Safe Haven Crisis Hotline at 1-888-510-BABY.
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