MITCHELL — On Thursday, Indiana hosted a blessing of the 84th Safe Haven Baby Box in the state. The box is the 110th in the nation.
The baby box in Mitchell is located at the Mitchell Volunteer Fire Department located at 105 Doc Hamilton Boulevard.
“Today in Mitchell, Indiana women have an option and kids will get better,” Safe Haven Baby Boxes Founder Monica Ashley said. “We will not find a baby dead in a trash can or dumpster in Mitchell, Indiana because of this box.”
Ashley went on to thank the 2019-20 child development class at Mitchell High School and the teacher of the class Amy Redman. The class raised the money to allow for the box to be built and placed at the fire station.
What is a Safe Haven Baby Box?
Baby boxes are safe incubators that have alarm systems, so 911 is notified as soon as a baby is placed inside. The baby boxes also have heating and cooling features.
Once the infant is collected by first responders, they're taken to the nearest medical facility to be evaluated.
Infants surrendered under Indiana's Safe Haven Law are placed in the custody of the state's Department of Child Services after they are released from the hospital. The process then begins to find an adoptive family within 30-45 days.
Safe Haven Hotline
The boxes make the news, but the Safe Haven Hotline is where most of these journeys begin.
SHBB staffs a 24-hour Safe Haven hotline (1-866-99BABY1), so parents can talk to trained professionals and get more information about their options for surrendering or how to get assistance to help them be able to care for their child.
The SHBB hotline is staffed by licensed counselors.
The Safe Haven Law allows mothers to safely surrender their infants, anonymously, up to 30 days old
Under the Safe Haven Law, parents have up to 30 days to change their mind once they surrender an infant.
-
Neighborhoods around Indy metro area experience longer wait times for pick-up
Some Indy neighborhoods are experiencing delays for trash pick-up after last week’s snowstorm. One of them is Garfield Park South, where residents tell us it’s taken two weeks to be picked up.
Community supports delivery driver who went the extra mile to deliver pizza
Connor Stephanoff is a Rock Star Pizza delivery driver who has recently gone viral for ensuring his customers got their food despite the snow.
Anderson police investigating shooting that left 18-year-old injured
Police in Anderson are investigating after an 18-year-old was shot in the 1600 block of E 38th Street on Tuesday night.
Veterans gather at Indiana Statehouse to discuss legislation and priorities
Veterans from across Indiana gathered at the Statehouse on Tuesday advocating for legislation that impacts their lives. One piece of proposed legislation has drawn concern among veterans.
