ANGOLA, IN (WTVB) – The 15th Safe Haven Baby Box in the State of Indiana has been installed at the Angola Fire Department.
A blessing of the box took place Monday morning.
Fire officials hope no mother is ever in a position to have to utilize the Safe Haven Baby Box but they and all public safety personnel are honored and committed to be of service if needed.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes founder and C.E.O. Monica Kelsey told WANE-TV that Angola’s close proximity to Michigan was a major reason it was chosen for the latest baby box.
A Baby Box is installed in an exterior wall of a designated fire station or hospital. It has an exterior door that automatically locks upon placement of a newborn inside the Baby Box, and an interior door which allows a medical staff member to secure the surrendered newborn from inside the designated building.
Baby boxes are not allowed in Michigan after Governor Rick Snyder in his final days in office vetoed legislation that was proposed by legislative Republicans. Snyder felt that if a parent wanted to give up a baby, it should be handed over to a uniformed police officer or firefighter or a hospital employee.
Michigan has had a Safe Haven law since 2000. It allows parents to surrender an infant at a hospital, police or fire station if the baby is less than 72 hours old.
