Safe Haven Baby Box an option for desperate mothers out of options

JONESBORO — Although she has yet to learn of any babies being abandoned in the Jonesboro area, Christina Forrester of Craighead County Right to Life said being proactive could better ensure the safety of newborn babies.

“I have seen all these news stories across Arkansas and across the country about babies being left on sidewalks and in dumpsters,” Forrester said.

Communications Officer Sally Smith said there were seven reports she pulled up when searching abandoned children, but none involved a local infant. Despite no documented occurrence of baby abandonment in the last three years, two organizations united to raise funding to help prevent an occurrence.

Craighead County Right to Life and the Knights of Columbus were able to raise funds for the installation of a Safe Haven Baby Box at Jonesboro Fire Department No. 3 on Brazos Street.

Knights of Columbus district deputy Larry Kimbrough said he was at a district meeting when he first heard of the Safe Haven Baby Box.

“I brought literature back from the meeting and we started it. … This is an effort to bring about awareness of the Safe Haven Law, which has been in place in Arkansas since 2001,” he said.

The law states an infant 30 days of age or younger can be taken to a hospital or police or fire department to be surrendered, Forrester said. As long as the baby doesn’t show any signs of being abused or neglected, there is no charge to the parents.

“Unfortunately, these mothers do not want to surrender their children face to face with someone because they don’t want the shame associated with it,” she said.

That’s where the Safe Haven Baby Box comes in. “The mom or dad can place the baby safely in the box.

There is a bag with information in it for the mother to connect her with resources,” she said. “Once that door is closed, there is an alarm that goes off.”

The firemen step in and remove the baby from the box inside the fire station.

Jonesboro firefighter Travis Williams said the box is climate-controlled and accessible from the inside.

It costs about $17,000 for the box and installation, he noted.

“It is fully functional right now,” he said.

A newborn baby boy was surrendered in February at the Safe Haven Baby Box located at Central Fire Station in Conway.

The box at Central is the fifth in the state and the 75th in the nation.

“This project was funded entirely by donations from the community. Hiegel Building Solutions donated materials and labor for the installation,” Capt. Ty Ledbetter, who spearheaded having a box at Central Station, said during a news conference on Thursday.

“This resource has already proven its value in less than one year, and I’m confident it will continue to prove its value for years to come.”

Monica Kelsey, who was abandoned as an infant and founded Safe Haven Baby Box, Inc., said it was her mission to end infant abandonment through awareness and education on Safe Haven Laws. Providing anonymous safe surrender locations through Safe Haven Baby Boxes is a key to the mission, she said.

“We know mothers in crisis need better options to ensure their infants can be safely surrendered legally and anonymously. This is why Safe Haven Baby Boxes are changing the outcome for these vulnerable parents,” Kelsey said at the news conference.

“Today we rejoice that these protective measures have kept this infant and strong mother safe.”

She said the Safe Haven Baby Box “offers no names, no shame and no blame.”

“There is no judgement here,” she said. “I want to honor the mother who had the strength to do what was best for the child. Thank you, you kept your child safe. I want you to find peace in knowing that your child is healthy, your child is safe, and we’ve got it from here.”

The baby, who Ledbetter said “required no medical attention” will stayed at a Conway hospital for a couple of days, then with a temporary family for 30 days before ultimately being adopted.

No further details about the newborn were released in order to protect the anonymity of parents and child.