When Alpha Pregnancy Care Center in Hopkinsville heard about a safety device that allows for the secure and anonymous surrender of an infant, they pursued a Safe Haven Baby Box as another way to serve vulnerable women in their community.
“We see women faced with unplanned pregnancy all the time,” said Alpha Executive Director Angie Crawford. “We see the shock. We see the fear. We see the uncertainty of what to do. And when we heard that this existed, it just seemed like a natural extension, just another resource to offer her.”
A Safe Haven Baby Box allows a mother in crisis to safely, legally surrender a child who is less than 30 days old, automatically terminating her parental rights if she expresses no intent to return.
After placing her baby in the climate-controlled, electronically monitored box and closing the door, the mother is free to leave without legal pursuit as the box automatically locks and triggers a series of silent alarms. An individual with emergency medical training is then able to respond within two minutes and take custody of the infant for ongoing care.
Crawford started a dialogue about bringing a baby box to Christian County with the local fire department, and several months later the city of Hopkinsville entered into a contract with Safe Haven Baby Box, the organization behind baby boxes and the Safe Haven laws that legalize their use.
Once the project is completed, the city and fire department/EMS will monitor the box by performing daily visual checks, run weekly alarm system tests and provide training for personnel, assuming responsibility for the community resource.
Hopkinsville Fire Chief Steve Futrell told Hoptown Chronicle that the baby box will be located at the administration building next door to HFD’s main station on West First Street.
“We feel like it’s important for our community,” Futrell said. “There are several in the state and they have been used. We want to make sure we are offering everything we can.”
The first infant anonymously dropped off at one of the Kentucky sites was in February at a Bowling Green Fire Department location, according to an Associated Press report. The second infant surrender was in June at a Louisville fire station, the Courier Journal reported.
The Kentucky law allowing anonymous surrendering of infants at “newborn safety devices” was adopted in 2021.
“We’ve done things like contacting the Attorney (General) to make sure the location is acceptable for Safe Haven laws in Kentucky and coordinated the efforts, but the fire department … they already have the estimate to install it and they will set up the alarm system and they’ll pay the annual fee,” Crawford said. “We would step away once it’s up and functional.”
But until then, Crawford and Alpha will be actively engaged by raising funds and awareness for the box.
The project will require a minimum of $16,000 to cover the cost of the box itself, installation fees and the alarm technology — and while Alpha is leading fundraising efforts, monies raised will not funnel through the hands of center volunteers or staff.
“Every penny that is raised goes directly to Safe Haven Baby Box,” Crawford explained. “People can’t write a check to Alpha and then us turn around and send it to them (Safe Haven). All checks are written to Safe Haven, and all money goes directly to them.”
Supporters can also give online through a secure link posted to Alpha’s Facebook page. The faith-based organization promotes alternatives to abortion and provides pregnancy testing and other services to people with unplanned pregnancies.
Two weeks after announcing the project in late June, donations have already surpassed $2,200.
For more information about Safe Haven Baby Boxes, visit shbb.org. To learn more about the Hopkinsville project or to give toward the $16,000 goal, call Alpha Pregnancy Care Center at 270-885-3820 or click here.
Anyone weighing the decision of safe and legal surrender of a child may call the 24-hour National Safe Haven Crisis line at 1-866-99BABY1.
Hoptown Chronicle editor Jennifer P. Brown contributed to this report.
