WI Needs More Baby Boxes

This post originally appeared at https://wifamilycouncil.org/radio/wi-needs-more-baby-boxes/

One year ago today, Governor Evers signed into law the Safe Haven Baby Box Bill, which allows parents to anonymously relinquish their newborn baby by placing them in a secured, ventilated, temperature-controlled “baby box” outside fully staffed hospitals and fire and police stations. Once a baby has been dropped off, the box automatically locks and triggers an alarm to alert building staff to the presence of the baby. An adoption plan is created for babies surrendered through the original Safe Haven program, as well as this additional provision.

This much-needed program offers an alternative pathway for mothers facing crisis pregnancies. Over the past year, two baby boxes have been installed in Wisconsin, one in Elkhorn and one in Reedsburg. We hope more communities around the state will equip hospitals, fire stations, and police stations with these life-saving devices through private funding.