JEFFERSONTOWN, Ky. — Kentucky just welcomed its latest Safe Haven Baby Box in Jeffersontown.
Jeffersontown Fire and EMS Station 51, located at 10540 Watterson Trail, now features a Baby Box on the front of the building.
The Safe Haven Baby Box will be blessed on Monday, Jan. 15th at 11 a.m. According to a news release, the community is welcome to attend the blessing and learn more about the program and how it can protect women in crisis and their infants.
Jeffersontown is the 28th Baby Box in Kentucky and the 194th in the nation.
“Kentucky has been a leader in being prepared for safe surrender. Last year there were three babies surrendered via Baby Box in Kentucky," Monica Kelsey, Safe Haven Baby Box founder, said. "We are proud of Jeffersontown for making sure they are prepared to protect vulnerable communities.”
Safe Haven Baby Boxes are temperature-controlled and sound an alarm to alert firefighters when an infant is placed inside. The baby is then retrieved within three minutes or less, officials said. Once taken out of the box, the baby is checked by medics, taken to the hospital, and then placed with a family who will adopt the baby.
“Jeffersontown Fire & EMS is blessed to have the opportunity to have a Safe Haven Baby Box installed and available at Station 51..." Col. Sean Dreisbach, Jeffersontown Fire & EMS, said. "It is our job as firefighters and EMS personnel to take care of people in their time of need, whether it is responding to their medical emergency or extinguishing a fire at their residence, we are always there to help."
In 2023, officials said a record 17 babies were surrendered via Baby Box.
Alabama, Indiana, Ohio, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Iowa, Missouri, West Virginia, and Mississippi each have a Baby Box presence within their state.
Since the first Baby Box surrender in 2017, officials reported that 37 infants were placed in a Baby Box with the numbers increasing year over year.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes also provides a 24 hour hotline with counseling on the Safe Haven Law for the U.S. If you need to speak to a licensed counselor call the National Safe Haven crisis hotline at 1-866-99BABY1.
The hotline has also assisted with over 130 surrenders at Safe Haven locations.
To find a Safe Haven Baby Box location, click here.
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