VINCENNES, Ind. — Vincennes Fire Station installed Knox County’s first Safe Haven Baby Box.
The baby box is located on the south side of the station, located at 928 Vigo Street in Vincennes, and will be made available to the public beginning Thursday.
This is the 40th Safe Haven Baby Box nationwide.
Indiana’s 2000 Safe Haven Law allows parents to anonymously surrender their healthy newborns 30
days or younger without fear of criminal prosecution at any fire /EMS station or hospital. The first
Safe Haven Baby Box became available in 2016 in an effort to raise awareness of the Safe Haven law
and to end illegal infant abandonment.
The Safe Haven Baby Box organization also staffs a 24-hour hotline (1-866-99BABY1) to give women the opportunity to talk to a trained professional as they consider safely surrendering their baby.
“The Safe Haven Baby Boxes organization provides the necessary resources for a parent who is in need of counseling and options when considering a surrender. Some parents want complete anonymity and this Safe Haven Baby Box provides that for them,” Safe Haven Baby Boxes Founder and CEO, Monica Kelsey, said.
To date, eight babies have been surrendered in an Indiana baby box with four surrendered in 2020.
Nationwide, the organization has assisted with 79 women and infants with safe surrenders.
“I’m happy this is available in our community but pray it’s never needed,” Vincennes Mayor Joe
Yochum said.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes cost roughly $15,000 with installation and are equipped with alarm systems
to notify 9-1-1 immediately.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes also have heating and cooling features and lock as soon as the baby is placed inside. Indiana is one of five states with updated Safe Haven Laws to include additional surrender options.
