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Chambers County OKs site for Safe Haven baby box at EMS Station 2
Summary
Commissioners approved locating a privately funded Safe Haven baby box at EMS Station 2 after presenters said the box provides an anonymous, electronically monitored place to leave newborns up to six months; local volunteers will fund installation and pay an ongoing $500 annual fee.
Chambers County Commissioners on Tuesday approved locating a Safe Haven baby box at EMS Station 2 and accepted a volunteer group's offer to fund installation and maintenance.
Supporters, led by members of the Chambers County Republican Women and community volunteers, told the court the unit is an electronically monitored, lockable box that allows a mother (or anyone) to anonymously deposit a newborn up to six months old. A presenter said the box triggers an alarm when the door opens and again when a weighted plate registers a baby; EMS personnel then retrieve the infant from inside the station.
"The benefit of this versus just dropping at a hospital or a fire station is that it's anonymous," a presenter said, explaining the system's alarms and the county's requirement that the box be located at a manned station. The group told commissioners it expects to raise about $25,000 for the unit and will cover an estimated $500-per-year monitoring and maintenance fee.
Commissioner Dagley moved to approve the site at EMS Station 2 and Commissioner Tice seconded; the court recorded the motion as carried.
The presenters said Safe Haven provides advertising support and that the local fundraising group and GOP volunteers will manage publicity and ongoing costs. County staff confirmed the location meets the program's requirement for 24/7 staffing and generator power.
