Wisconsin sees first Safe Haven baby box surrender at Racine fire station
Racine fire station sees first Safe Haven baby box surrender
A healthy baby girl was safely surrendered to a Racine fire station last week, marking the first use of a Safe Haven baby box in Wisconsin, officials said.
RACINE, Wis. - For the first time in Wisconsin, a newborn has been safely and legally surrendered using a fire station’s baby box, officials said.
What we know:
The milestone comes two years after Gov. Tony Evers signed the state’s Safe Haven law, which allows parents to anonymously surrender infants to emergency responders or by placing them in designated baby boxes at fire stations.
What they're saying:
"They basically said, ‘I want what is best for my child and it’s not me,’" said Monica Kelsey, founder and CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes.
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Kelsey called the surrender a selfless and heroic act.
"Anytime a baby is saved in a box, it’s just an amazing opportunity for this child but also the parent," she said.
The first case in Wisconsin happened last week, when a healthy baby girl was placed in a baby box at Racine Fire Station 4. She was immediately transported to a hospital for care.
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"If she is out there and she is listening, first we want to tell her thank you," Kelsey said. "Thank you for trusting us with her child."
Dig deeper:
The Racine box is one of seven across the state, installed in 2023 after the governor signed the legislation. More than 390 baby boxes now exist in 23 states, according to the organization, which also runs a 24/7 hotline for parents in crisis.
Kelsey said the mission is personal, and it’s a step toward making a difference.
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"Back in 1973, there was no Safe Haven law, and a scared 17-year-old girl abandoned her child two hours after her child was born, and that child was me," she said. "I couldn’t change what happened to me, but I could definitely change what happens to other women who find themselves in the same situation."
The Source: Information came from Safe Haven Baby Boxes.