New Safe Haven Baby Box used 12 days after it was installed: ‘Difficult and courageous decision’

MADISON, Ala. (WAFF) – A new Safe Haven Baby Box in Alabama was used for the first time this week.

According to the private adoption agency Kids to Love Foundation, a mother placed her newborn daughter in the Safe Haven Baby Box at the Madison Fire Department on Monday afternoon.

The baby was placed in the box just 12 days after the box was installed.

Madison firefighters were able to respond quickly once the door closed and the alarm sounded. The baby was reported to be in good health and taken to Madison Hospital.

The Safe Haven boxes allow mothers to bring their child to fire stations anonymously.

“We knew there was a need for these boxes in Alabama,” said Kids to Love Founder and CEO Lee Marshall. “This mother made a difficult and courageous decision when she placed her child in Madison’s Safe Haven Baby Box. We are thankful it was there for her when she needed it.”

Marshall said the fact the box in Madison was used less than two weeks after it was installed “tells us we need more of them ready for mothers across the state as soon as possible.”

“We have seen the tragic results of women not knowing what else to do with a child they aren’t ready to raise, and we never want to see it happen again,” Marshall said.

The only baby boxes currently operating in the state of Alabama are in Madison and Prattville. However, Tuscaloosa, Opelika and Gadsden are all in line to receive baby boxes soon.

Most of the boxes are being paid for by private donations.

Alabama’s Safe Haven law has also recently been expanded.

The law previously said a child must be less than 72 hours old to legally put in a Safe Haven Baby Box. Now, a child can now be up to 45 days old.

For more information about Save Haven Baby Boxes and to learn about the laws in your state, click here.

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